Pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutical diluent and a compound of formula IX: R.sup.29.dbd.H, or C.sub.1-C.sub.20 alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, aryl, arylalkyl, or alkylaryl, .dbd.CHR.sup.31, --C(O)OR.sup.31, --C(O)R.sup.31, --CH.sub.2C(O)OR.sup.31, CH.sub.2C(O)NHR.sup.31, where R.sup.31 is H or C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkyl, cycloalkyl, or alkenyl; R.sup.30.dbd.C.sub.1-C.sub.20 alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, aryl, arylalkyl, or alkylaryl; X.sup.5.dbd.--OR.sup.32, or NHR.sup.32, Where R.sup.32 is H, C.sub.1-C.sub.20 alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, aryl, arylalkyl, or alkylaryl, the R.sup.32 group optionally containing a carbonyl group, a carboxyl group, a carboxyamide group, an alcohol group, or an ether group, the R.sup.32 group further optionally containing one or more halogen atoms; with the proviso that when R.sup.29 is .dbd.CH.sub.2, then X.sup.5 is not OH. Also disclosed are compounds within the scope of the formula IX, as well as uses of the pharmaceutical compositions for weight loss, anti-microbial and anti-cancer applications, inhibition of fatty acid synthase and neuropeptide-Y, and the stimulation of the activity of carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1.