| abstract |
A method of treating autoimmune diseases by suppressing the immune response of an animal is characterized by administering to the animal a compound of the general formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R 0 and R 1 are radicals selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy, alkyl, alkoxy and acyloxy: R 2 and R 3 are radicals separately selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl; or together, represent a radical of the general formula (2): ##STR2## wherein R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 and R 9 are radicals separately selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, sulfate, and halogen: or R 2 and R 3 together, represent a radical of the general formula (3): ##STR3## wherein R 10 and R 11 both represent hydrogen; or together, represent a valence bond: R 12 , R 13 , R 14 , R 15 are radicals selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy, alkoxy, sulfate and acyloxy; and n is an integer selected from the range 2 to 4; alone or in association with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluents. |