The synthesis of cis- and trans-1,6-dihydroxypyrrolizidine starting from trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline and their evaluation as glycosidase inhibitors are reported. The cis-isomer was found to be a potent inhibitor against .alpha.-glucosidase and showed weak inhibitory effect against other glycosidases. The trans-isomer exhibited weak inhibitions of b-glucosidase and amylo-glucosidase and poor inhibition of other glycosidases.