Linear Peptides Containing d‑Leucine with Neuroprotective Activities from the Leech <i>Whitmania pigra</i> Whitman ZhangZi-Yue MaNan TaoLi-Jun GongXue-Ying YeWen-Cai WangLei 2019 Three new linear peptides containing d-leucine, named whitmantides A–C (<b>1</b>–<b>3</b>), were isolated from the dried whole bodies of <i>Whitmania pigra</i> Whitman. Their structures with absolute configurations were elucidated by Edman degradation, mass spectrometry, Marfey’s analysis, and solid-phase synthesis. It is the first time that peptides containing d-amino acid in leeches were discovered. Compounds <b>1</b>–<b>3</b> displayed neuroprotective activities against oxygen–glucose deprivation/reperfusion injury on Neuro-2a cells. In addition, ex vivo serum stability tests showed that <b>1</b>–<b>3</b> were resistant to protease degradation.