Some pyrogallol and catechol derivatives were synthesized, and their urease inhibitory activity was evaluated by using acetohydroxamic acid (AHA), a well known Helicobacter pylori urease inhibitor, as positive control. The assay results indicate that many compounds have showed potential inhibitory activity against H. pylori urease. 4-(4-Hydroxyphenethyl)phen-1,2-diol (2a) was found to be the most potent urease inhibitor with IC(50)s of 1.5±0.2 μM for extracted fraction and 4.2±0.3 μM for intact cell, at least 10 times and 20 times lower than those of AHA (IC(50) of 17.2±0.9 μM, 100.6±13 μM), respectively. This finding indicate that 2a would be a potential urease inhibitor deserves further research. Molecular dockings of 2a into H. pylori urease active site were performed for understanding the good activity observed. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.