| abstract |
(57) Abstract: [PROBLEMS] To provide a whitening agent having an excellent whitening effect, high safety and stability, and a skin external preparation containing the same. SOLUTION: A whitening agent containing a lactone derivative of the general formula (1) as an active ingredient and a skin external preparation containing the same. Embedded image [A is -CH 2 CH (R 3 ) →, -CH = C (R 3 ) → or -CH 2 CH 2 CH (R 3 ). → (R 3 is H, C 2-6 -alkoxycarbonyl, C 1-5 -hydrocarbon, etc. → is a bond to carbonyl), R 1 is OH, C 1-5 -alkoxy, C 2-5 -alkenyloxy and the like may be substituted with C 1-9 -hydrocarbon , R 2 is H, C 1-5 -alkyl, and R 1 + R 2 is -CH. 2 CH 2 COO-). |