Sphingoglycolipids, their preparation, and therapeutic methods of use

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sphingoglycolipid represented by the following formula (I) which is effective at a small dose and has an anti-tumor activity and an immunostimulating effect with few side-effects: ##STR1## wherein X denotes an integer from 10 to 24, Y denotes an integer from 9 to 13, R.sub.1 represents a hexosyl, pentosyl, deoxyhexosyl, aminohexosyl, N-acetylaminohexosyl or a halide thereof or a sialic acid, R.sub.2 represents H or a group OR.sub.2 ', wherein R.sub.2 ' represents H or a galactosyl or glucosyl group, R.sub.3 represents H or a group OR.sub.3 ', wherein R.sub.3 ' represents H or a galactosyl or glucosyl group, R.sub.4 represents a galactosyl group or H, R.sub.5 represents a methyl or isopropyl group, R.sub.6 and R.sub.7 respectively represents H or form a double bond between the two carbon atoms to which R.sub.6 and R.sub.7 are attached, except for the case where R.sub.1 represents .alpha.-galactosyl and R.sub.4 represents H.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.