To obtain effective and safe topical depigmenting agents, we synthesized hydroxybenzoates, alkoxybenzoates, and 3, 4, 5-trimethoxycinnamate containing a thymol moiety and screened then for high-level inhibitory activity against melanin synthesis in cultured melanocytes. Eight compounds were tested for their depigmenting effect and cytotoxicity using a murine melanocyte cell line. We found that 3, 4, 5-trialkoxybenzoates ...