Thiazolidinediones improve insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes mellitus by acting as peroxisome proliferator-associated receptor gamma (PPAR ) agonists, and decrease circulating androgen concentrations in polycystic ovary syndrome by unknown mechanisms. Some thiazolidinediones directly inhibit the steroidogenic enzymes P450c17 and 3 -hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type II (3 HSDII) by distinct mechanisms. We synthesized five novel thiazolidinediones, CLX-M1 to -M5 by linking a 2,4-thiazolidinedione moiety to a substituted -phenyl cinnamic acid previously shown to have glucose-lowering effects. Using yeast microsomes expressing human P450c17 and 3 HSDII we found that cinnamic acid methyl esters with a double bond in the thiazolidinedione core structure (M3, M5) were stronger inhibitors of P450c17 than methyl esters with the conventional core (M1, M4). These four compounds inhibited 3 HSDII equally well, while the free cinnamic acid analog (M2) did not inhibit either enzyme. Thus, the inhibition of P450c17 and 3 HSDII by these novel thiazolidinediones reveals structure-activity relationships independent of PPAR transactivation. PPAR transactivation was moderate (M1), weak (M2, M3) or even absent (M4, M5). While the PPAR agonist activity of M1 was only 3% of that of rosiglitazone, both increased glucose uptake by 3T3-L1 adipocytes and reduced serum glucose levels in ob/ob and db/db mice to a similar extent. The similar glucose-lowering effects of M1 and rosiglitazone, despite their vast differences in PPAR agonist activity, suggests these two actions may occur by separate mechanisms.