PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a skin-whitening cosmetic that has excellent skin-whitening action and tyrosinase inhibitory activity by using a condensation type tannin substance as an active ingredient. SOLUTION: This cosmetic contains, as active ingredient, a substance represented by the formula (n is 1 or more). The substance of the formula dissolves in a hydrophilic solvent and is included in the extract of jatoba, a plant in Hymenaea courbaril. The extract is obtained by defatting the fruits or peels of the plant with a non-aqueous solvent as petroleum ether or n-hexane, extracting them with a mixed solvent of water and acetone, followed by fractionation. A part of tannin has been used in cosmetics, but the condensation type tannin substance has not yet been utilized in cosmetics. The substance, trimer or more oligomers of the formula, obtained from the extract of jatoba, can be safely applied to skin and has high skin-whitening action and is effective for skin roughening.
展开▼
