PURPOSE: To prepare the titled compound economically, in an industrial scale, without using expensive platinum catalyst, in a relatively short reaction time, suppressing the side reactions, by reducing glycyrrhetinic acid with active zinc and hydrogen chloride in a solvent.

CONSTITUTION: Glycyrrhetinic acid is dissolved in a solvent such as tetrahydrofuran, etc., added with active zinc, and reduced by adding hydrochloric acid or hydrogen chloride gas to obtain the reaction product precipitated as crystals. The crystals are filtered, washed with water, and dried to obtain the objective compound of formula. The active zinc is granular, flaky, particulate or powdery zinc amalgamated with mercuric chloride, and the reaction temperature is preferably ≤30°C to prevent the side reactions.