Endocrine Abstracts

Excess glucocorticoids (GC) promote visceral obesity, hyperlipidemia and insulin resistance. The main regulators of intracellular GC levels are 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1), which converts inactive GC into bioactive forms such as cortisol in humans and corticosterone in rodents. Therefore, the inhibition of 11β-HSD1 has considerable therapeutic potential for metabolic diseases including obesity and diabetes. Benzofran is a key structure in ...