The present invention provides a cyclic derivative compound having remarkable whitening effects and a chemical structure of general formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. In the formula: A is derived from an aromatic cyclic compound; B is hydrogen, oxo (=O), amino (-NH2), imino (=NH), a C1-C10 saturated or unsaturated linear or branched alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a monoalkylamino group, or a dialkylamino group; Cn, Cn+1 and Cn+2 are three adjacent carbons present in the cyclic compound; and n is a positive integer. R1 is hydrogen, hydroxyl, a saturated or unsaturated linear or branched alkyl group or an alkoxy group, X and Y are selected from hydrogen, hydroxyl, a saturated or unsaturated linear or branched alkoxy group or an acyloxy group, and one of X and Y is hydrogen. Each of R2, R3, R4 and R5 is at least one substituent independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, acyloxy, acyloxymethyl, oxo, hydroxyl, vinyl, nitrile, carboxaldehyde, carbonitrile and aldehyde.