PROCESS FOR PRODUCING EXTRACT FROM LICHEN BELONGING TO GENUS USNEA

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a process for producing an extract from a lichen belonging to the genus Usnea or an inhibitor of activity of endothelin action which can be suitably used for skin external agents such as whitening agents.SOLUTION: There are provided a process for producing an extract from a lichen belonging to the genus Usnea which has a high diffractaic acid content and a low usnic acid content, the process including extracting a lichen belonging to the genus Usnea with an aqueous alcohol solution having an alcohol content of ≥30% by volume and ≤80% by volume; and a process for producing an inhibitor for activity of endothelin, the process including extracting a lichen belonging to the genus Usnea with an aqueous alcohol solution having an alcohol content of ≥30% by volume and ≤80% by volume.