Method for treating autoimmune disease

A method for treating an immune related disease in a subject in need thereof comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the formula (I):

• 11
• X is CH2 or oxygen;
• R1 is hydrogen or alkyl and
• R2, R3, R4 and R5 are independently hydrogen or lower alkyl and, when X is CH2, R4 and R5 may be alkene groups joined to form a benzene ring and, when X is oxygen, R2 and R3 and/or R4 and R5 together may be a methylenedioxy group of the following formula (II):
• 12
• wherein
• R6 and R7 are the same or different and are hydrogen, lower alkyl or are alkyl and are joined to form a cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl ring.

A method for the treatment of psoriasis or multiple sclerosis comprising administering to a subject in need thereof of less than about 50 mg daily of a compound of formula (I)

• 13
• X is CH2 or oxygen;
• R1 is hydrogen or alkyl and
• R2, R3, R4 and R5 are independently hydrogen or lower alkyl and, when X is CH2, R4 and R5 may be alkene groups joined to form a benzene ring and, when X is oxygen, R2 and R3 and/or R4 and R5 together may be a methylenedioxy group of the following formula (II):
• 14
• wherein
• R6 and R7 are the same or different and are hydrogen, lower alkyl or are alkyl and are joined to form a cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl ring.