5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl β-D-galactopyranoside (X-GAL) is a chromogenic substrate for β-Galactosidase that forms an intense blue precipitate. X-gal staining is a rapid and convenient histochemical technique used to detect reporter gene expression. It can be used in molecular biology to detect the gal gene product, and also in microbiology where it is used to detect microorganisms which have β-Galactosidase activity (usually coliforms).

Phenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside is a component of Phellodendron amurense. It was discovered, that phenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside might be beneficial for the prevention and treatment of anti-inflammatory diseases, due to its inhibition of the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), which is one of the most important transcription factors involved in the inflammatory process. In addition, Phenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside attenuated proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6 in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, phenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside abolished increased adhesion, ninjurin 1 (Ninj1) expression, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity induced by endotoxin treatment.