Abstract: An agent selected from A/B-cis furostane, furostene, spirostane and spirostene steroidal sapogenins and ester, ether, ketone and glycosylated forms thereof is used to induce self-regulated homeostasis of neurotrophic factors (NFs), for example BDNF and/or GDNF, NFs with limited and manageable side effects in a subject, by modulating NFs in a non-toxic manner under homeostatic control. An effective amount of at least one such agent is administered to the subject, particularly in the treatment or prevention of a range of NF-mediated disorders, particularly neurological, psychiatric, inflammatory, allergic, immune and neoplastic disorders, and in the restoration or normalisation of neuronal and other function in or in relation to any damaged or abnormal tissue, including when assisting tissue (for example, skin, bone, eye and muscle) healing and general skin, bone, eye and muscle health.

Abstract: Compounds of general formula I: wherein: R1 and R2 are, independently of each other, selected from hydrogen, optionally substituted C1-10alkyl, optionally substituted —CO—(C1-10alkyl), optionally substituted C3-10cycloalkyl, optionally substituted —CO—(C3-10cycloalkyl), optionally substituted C2-10alkenyl, optionally substituted —CO—(C2-10alkenyl), optionally substituted aryl, and optionally substituted —CO-aryl, or R1 and R2 together represent an optionally substituted saturated or unsaturated C1-10alkylidene group, or an optionally substituted saturated or unsaturated C3-10cycloalkylidene group, or R1 and R2 together with the carbon atom to which they are attached represent an optionally substituted saturated or unsaturated organic ring containing 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 ring carbon atoms and optionally 1, 2 or 3 ring heteroatoms selected from O, N and S; R3, which may be the same as, or different from, either of R1 and R2, is selected from optionally substituted C1-10alkyl, optionally substituted C3-10cyc