Purity >96% by NMR. Synthetic. Originally isolated from the marine sponge Angelas mauritianus. Immunostimulant. Potent stimulator of natural killer T (NKT) cells. Specific ligand of the lipid-binding MHC class I-like protein CD1d in human and mouse NKT cells. Protects against LPS-induced shock. Potent antitumor compound.