Novel ortho-substituted N′-benzylidene-(3-hydroxyphenyl)acetohydrazides of the formula (I), in which R1-R9 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.