Melanin production inhibitor, whitening agent, fibroblast activator, collagen and/or elastin production promotor and wrinkle ameliorant

A method for whitening the skin, comprising applying a whitening agent to skin of a subject, said whitening agent comprising:

• an orotic acid derivative represented by the following general formula (1) or a salt thereof, as an active ingredient of the whitening agent:
• wherein, R represents a side chain of a naturally-occurring amino acid and R may form, together with a nitrogen atom adjacent thereto through a single carbon atom, a hetero ring.

A method for activating fibroblast, comprising applying a fibroblast activator to skin of a subject, said fibroblast activator comprising:

• an orotic acid derivative represented by the following general formula (1) or a salt thereof, as an active ingredient of the fibroblast activator:
• wherein, R represents a side chain of a naturally-occurring amino acid and R may form, together with a nitrogen atom adjacent thereto through a single carbon atom, a hetero ring.

A method for promoting collagen and/or elastin production, comprising applying a collagen and/or elastin production promotor to skin of a subject, said collagen and/or elastin production promotor comprising:

• an orotic acid derivative represented by the following general formula (1) or a salt thereof, as an active ingredient of the collagen and/or elastin production promotor:
• wherein, R represents a side chain of a naturally-occurring amino acid and R may form, together with a nitrogen atom adjacent thereto through a single carbon atom, a hetero ring.

A method for method for ameliorating wrinkles, comprising applying a wrinkle ameliorant to skin of a subject, said wrinkle ameliorant comprising:

• an orotic acid derivative represented by the following general formula (1) or a salt thereof, as an active ingredient of the wrinkle ameliorant:
• wherein, R represents a side chain of a naturally-occurring amino acid and R may form, together with a nitrogen atom adjacent thereto through a single carbon atom, a hetero ring.