Abstract: The problems to be solved by the invention are to provide antibacterial agents originated from natural products that are safe for regular use with potent antibacterial activity, and antibacterial compositions containing said antibacterial agents. Antibacterial agents containing Eysenhardtia adenostylis extract or isoflavan compounds are a solution to the problem. Also antibacterial agents containing Eysenhardtia adenostylis extract or isoflavan compounds as active ingredients. The antibacterial agents can be applied to products such as cosmetics, including quasi-drugs, pharmaceuticals and foods. Further, antibacterial compositions containing these antibacterial agents, Eysenhardtia adenostylis extract or isoflavan compounds, and other compositions such as cosmetics, including quasi-drugs, pharmaceuticals and foods.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a substance which is efficacious in whitening sun-burnt skin after UV irradiation and preventing, ameliorating and treating skin pigmentation (for example, spots and freckles caused by sunburn, liver spots) and compositions containing the same. Melanogenesis inhibitors and whitening agents comprising an ergosterol derivative represented by formula (1); melanogenesis inhibitors and whitening agents containing the ergosterol derivative represented by the formula (1); melanogenesis inhibitory compositions and whitening compositions containing the ergosterol derivative represented by formula (1); cosmetics, drugs and external skin preparations containing the ergosterol derivative represented by formula (1); and melanogenesis inhibitory foods and whitening foods containing the ergosterol derivative represented by formula (1).