Helicobacter pylori (HP) produces strong urease [EC 3.5.1.5], which is considered to play a role in the pathogenesis of gastritis and peptic ulcers. Inhibitions against this enzyme have been studied with hydroxamic acid (HXA) derivatives of aliphatic or aromatic carboxylic acids, amino acids and dipeptides. A number of HXAs potently inhibited the urease (I50 values were near the order of 10(-6)M), and H-Ile-Gly-NHOH (I50 = 0.20 x 10(-6)M) was the most potent inhibitor among the derivatives. HP urease was inhibited more potently, in general, than Jack bean (JB) urease by HXAs, and a correlation between the chemical structures of HXA derivatives and their inhibitory effects on HP urease was observed, in comparison with JB urease.