Specific inhibition of human β‐D‐glucuronidase and α‐L‐iduronidase by a trihydroxy pipecolic acid of plant origin

Abstract

The glucuronic acid analogue of 1-deoxynojirimycin, 2(S)-carboxy-3(R), 4(R), 5(S)-trihydroxypiperidine, recently isolated from seeds of Baphia racemosa, is a novel specific inhibitor of human liver β-D-glucuronidase and α-L-iduronidase. No other glycosidases are inhibited. The inhibition of β-D-glucuronidase is competitive, with a K _i of 8 × 10⁻⁵ M and is pH-dependent. This inhibitor may be useful to induce a mucopolysaccharidosis or to investigate the function of microsomal β-D-glucoronidase.