PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a novel skin external preparation having excellent melanogenesis inhibitory action.SOLUTION: Extract from Ziziphus jujuba, Zizyphus jujuba, or Zizyphus zizyphus is novel as a skin external preparation, has excellent melanogenesis inhibitory action, and also has excellent stability. The extract from Ziziphus jujuba, Zizyphus jujuba, or Zizyphus zizyphus can be used in the medical field as well as the cosmetic field such as skin whitening and is therefore expected for applications to cosmetics, quasi drugs, pharmaceuticals and the like.SELECTED DRAWING: None