A method for preparing 11 beta , 17 alpha , 20, 21-tetrahydroxy steroids of the pregnane class comprises incubating the corresponding 17 alpha , 20 alpha or beta , 21-trihydroxy steroid in the presence of a culture medium capable of effecting the 11 beta -hydroxylation which comprises a fungal culture of the genus Curvularia. A method for preparing 11 beta , 17 alpha , 21-trihydroxy-20-oxo steroids of the pregnane class comprises the hydroxylation method described above followed by conversion of the resulting 11 beta , 17 alpha , 20 alpha or beta , 21-tetrahydroxy steroid into the corresponding 11 beta , 17 alpha , 21-trihydroxy-20-oxo steroid.
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