Cytoprotective compounds

A composition comprising:

• ##STR20## wherein A comprises H, OH, NH.sub.2, or an acid or salt thereof;
• B is selected from the group consisting of N, NR, P, P.dbd.O, CH and CR, wherein R is an alkyl chain of 1 to 6 carbons and the chain may be functionalized or non-functionalized;
• C.sub.1, C.sub.2 and C.sub.3 are connecting groups which may be different and are selected from the group consisting of --(CH.sub.2).sub.n -- and (CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --O)y wherein n is an integer from 1 to 24, --(CH.sub.2).sub.n -- may be functionalized or non-functionalized, and y is an integer from 1 to 12;
• and
• D.sub.1 and D.sub.2 are fatty acid chains which may be different and are selected from the group consisting of fatty acid esters of the form CH.sub.3 (CH.sub.2).sub.n COO, and fatty acid amides of the form CH.sub.3 (CH.sub.2).sub.n CONH, wherein n is an integer from 1 to 32, at least one of the fatty chains is cis-unsaturated at one or more positions, and the fatty chains may be of different lengths and may be unsaturated at different locations.