Several flavonoids, stilbenes and related 4-substituted resorcinols, obtained from Artocarpus incisus and other plants or synthesized, were tested for their inhibitory activity against tyrosinase. The structure-activity relationships suggested that specific natural or synthesized compounds having the 4-substituted resorcinol skeleton have potent tyrosinase inhibitory ability. Kinetic studies have indicated that specific compounds having the 4-substituted resorcinol skeleton exhibit competitive inhibition of the oxidation of DL-beta-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)alanine (DL-DOPA) by mushroom tyrosinase. These findings could lead to the design and discovery of new tyrosinase inhibitors.