Patent ID: 8247447

Claim:
A method for inhibiting melanogenesis in the skin of a subject in need thereof, comprising topically applying to the skin a composition, comprising at least one substance of formula (I), wherein Y is H, C1-C8 alkyl, C2-C8 alkenyl, phenyl, Na + , K + or NH 4+ , R 1 is H, a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl group comprising 1 to 18 carbon atoms, —C(═O)—R 2 , wherein R 2 is a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl group comprising 1 to 17 carbon atoms, or —(CH 2 )n—COOX wherein n is a to 17 and wherein X is H, C1-C8 alkyl, C2-C8 alkenyl, phenyl, Na + , K + or NH 4+ , in an amount effective to inhibit melanogenesis.