Abstract: A mixture of betasitosterol and betasitosteryl glycoside in a ratio of between 1:1 and 500:1 is administered to an HIV infected individual. This has the effect of stabilizing CD4 cell numbers, decreasing the plasma viral load, degree of apoptosis in, and the serum levels of 1L6 in the peripheral blood.

Abstract: A mixture of .beta.-sitosterol glucoside and .beta.-sitosterol is administered to persons for the modulation or control of immune responses. The two compounds may be added in admixture or sequentially. Diseases such as viral and bacterial infections, autoimmune diseases, psoriasis, ezcema, asthma, cancer may be treated.

Abstract: As a process for preparing a compound of the formula ##STR1## in which both Rs are H or --OH comprising the steps: a. of treating the ethyl ester of caffeic acid with a trialkylsilyl chloride at ambient conditions in equimolar proportions in the presence of a base;b. of reduction of the resulting product with an aluminium hydride reagent at sub-zero temperature and equimolar proportions to yield the corresponding allylic alcohol;c. of halogenation of this allylic alcohol with thionyl chloride or a phosphorus trihalide to yield the corresponding allyl halide;d. of coupling this allyl halide with the silyl ether of compound of the formula ##STR2## in refluxing ether solutions; and e. of hydrolysis of this coupled product with tetra alkyl ammonium flouride at ambient conditions and of equimolar proportions.

Abstract: A process for preparing a compound of the formula ##STR1## in which both Rs and H or OH; comprising the steps a. of treating the ethyl ester of caffeic acid with trialkylsilyl chloride at ambient conditions in equimolar proportions in the presence of a base;b. the reduction of the ester to the corresponding allylic alcohol with aluminum hydride reagent;c. of oxidizing the resulting product with manganese dioxide at ambient temperature and in excess molar proportion to yield the corresponding allylic aldehyde;d. of coupling the latter with the silyl ether of the relative phenyl acetylide; ande. of hydrolysis of this coupled product with alkylammonium fluoride at ambient conditions in equimolar proportions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new anti-cancer chemical compound which has been called rooperol and certain derivatives thereof of the general formula ##STR1## in which A is chosen from the group including a phenyl group, a substituted phenyl group and --CH.sub.2 --O--R.sup.5 where R.sup.5 =H, an alkyl (C.sub.1 -C.sub.5), aralkyl or acyl substituent; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are chosen from substituents including H for both or singly if one of them is --OH, --NH.sub.2, --SH, ##STR2## or taken together R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are =0; R.sup.3 is H or ##STR3## where R.sup.6 is an alkyl group (C.sub.1 -C.sub.7); either of R.sup.4 or B are chosen from substituents including H, ##STR4## a phenyl group, substituted phenyl group or a furyl group.