PURPOSE: To obtain a sebum secretion promoter having activating action on sebaceous gland function, improving effect on chapped skin by drying.

CONSTITUTION: This sebum secretion promoter comprises 0.0001-10.0wt.%, preferably 0.001-3.0wt.% of bryonolic acid of the formula which is an acidic pentacyclic triterpenoid and is produced by culturing a cultured cell of cucurbitaceous plant in a medium containing auxin in a low concentration at a dark place. The dosage form of the promoter is powder, pill, tablet, injection, suppository or external preparation and the promoter is produced according to ordinary pharmaceutically manufacturing technology. A daily dose is 20-500mg, preferably 50-200mg and can be administered dividedly two to three times. The compound of the formula is obtained by inducing a callus of cucurbitaceous plant by a conventional method, preparing a cell of suspension culture, inoculating the cultured cell to a liquid medium containing 10-6 to 10-8M2,4- dichlorophenoxybutyric acid, subjecting the cell to rotary shaking culture at a dark place for 1-3 weeks, drying the prepared cultured cell, extracting and concentrating to dryness.