Abstract: A compound represented by the following general formula (I): [R1 to R5 represent hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or a trialkylsilyl group, X represents —NH—CO—, —CO—NH—, —N(COR6)—CO—, —CO—N(COR7)— (R6 and R7 represent a lower alkoxy group, or a carboxy-substituted phenyl group) etc.; and Z represents —Y—CH(R12)—COOH, —CHO, —CH?CH—COOH, or —COOR13 (Y represents a single bond, —CH2—, —CH(OH)—, —CO—, —CO—NH—, or —CO—NH—CH2—CO—NH—, R12 represents hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group, and R13 represents hydrogen atom, —CH(R14)—COOH(R14 represents hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, or hydroxy group), —[CH2CH2—O]n—CH2—CH2—OH, —CH2—O—[CH2CH2—O]m—CH2—OH, or —[CH(CH3)—CO—O]p—CH(CH3)—COOH (m, n and p represent an integer of 1 to 100))], a salt thereof or an ester thereof, which has a property of being converted into a retinoid after absorption in vivo.