The present invention provides a cyclic derivative compound having remarkable whitening effects and a
chemical structure of general formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. In the formula: A is derived from an aromatic
cyclic compound; B is
hydrogen, oxo (=O), amino (-NH2), imino (=NH), a C1-C10 saturated or unsaturated linear or branched
alkyl group, an
alkoxy group, a monoalkylamino group, or a dialkylamino group; Cn, Cn+1 and Cn+2 are three adjacent carbons present in the
cyclic compound; and n is a positive integer. R1 is
hydrogen, hydroxyl, a saturated or unsaturated linear or branched
alkyl group or an
alkoxy group, X and Y are selected from
hydrogen, hydroxyl, a saturated or unsaturated linear or branched
alkoxy group or an acyloxy group, and one of X and Y is hydrogen. Each of R2, R3, R4 and R5 is at least one
substituent independently selected from hydrogen,
alkyl, alkoxy, acyloxy, acyloxymethyl, oxo, hydroxyl, vinyl,
nitrile, carboxaldehyde, carbonitrile and
aldehyde.