Novel ortho-substituted N'-benzylidene-(3-hydroxyphenyl)acetohydrazides of the formula (I), in which R.sup.1-R.sup.9 have the meanings indicated in claim 1, are SGK inhibitors and can be used for the treatment of SGK-induced diseases and conditions, such as diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome (dyslipidaemia), systemic and pulmonary hypertonia, cardiovascular diseases and kidney diseases, generally in fibroses and inflammatory processes of any type. ##STR00001##