A method for inhibiting melanogenesis, promoting collagen production, and promoting wound healing in the skin of a subject in need thereof, comprises administering to the subject an effective amount of a compound represented by formula (I). The compound of the present invention can inhibit melanin formation, promote collagen production and facilitate wound repair. Therefore, the compound can be utilized to manufacture compositions for skin whitening, anti-aging, and wound healing. The present invention also provides a method of preparing a compound of formula (I) comprising preparing an explant of Saussurea involucrate , obtaining a callus from the explant, preparing a liquid culture of the callus, processing the liquid culture to obtain a biomass of the callus and preparing a ground biomass therefrom, carrying out a solvent extraction to obtain a supernatant and isolating the compound from the supernatant by column chromatography. In particular, the explant is prepared by culturing a young leaf and the solv
