Thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid derivatives as cytoprotective agents

A pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle and a cytoprotective agent of the formula ##STR7## wherein ##STR8## n=0-12;

• m=0-12;
• X=nothing, NR.sup.1,O, or S(O).sub.n' ;
• provided that when X.dbd.NR.sup.1, O, or S(O).sub.n', then m>0 and n>0;
• n'=0-2;
• R.sup.1 .dbd.H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl;
• R.dbd.OH or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkoxyl, amino, mono- or dialkylamino where the alkyl has from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or a radical of an amino acid of the formula:
• --NH--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --CH(R.sup.2)--CO--R.sup.3 ;
• R.sup.2 .dbd.H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, optionally substituted by hydoxy, SH, SCH.sub.3, or optionally substituted phenyl;
• and
• R.sup.3 .dbd.OH, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkoxyl, amino, or mono- or dialkyl amino where the alkyl has from 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

A method of providing cytoprotection to a patient in need thereof comprising administering to such patient a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle and a amount of a cellular protective agent of the formula ##STR9## wherein ##STR10## m=0-12;

• X=nothing, NR.sup.1,O, or S(O).sub.n' ;
• provided that when X.dbd.NR.sup.1, O or S(O).sub.n', then m>0 and n>0;
• n'=0-2;
• R.sup.1 .dbd.H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl;
• R.dbd.OH or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkoxyl, amino, mono- or dialkylamino where the alkyl has from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or a radical of an amino acid of the formula:
• --NH--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --CH(R.sup.2)--CO--R.sup.3 ;
• R.sup.2 .dbd.H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, optionally substituted by hydoxy, SH, SCH.sub.3, or optionally substituted phenyl;
• and
• R.sup.3 .dbd.OH, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkoxyl, amino, or mono- or dialkyl amino where the alkyl has from 1 to 4 carbon atoms.