Previously , the methanolic extract of peach sees was found to have a strong tyrosinase inhibitory activity in an in vitro assay. Several phenolic compunds were isolated from the seeds by solvent fractionation , Sephadex LH-20 chromatography, and preparative HPLC , and one of them showing strong tyrosinase inhibition was identified as benzoic acid by UV, IR, $^1$H/$^1$$^3$C-NMR, and EI-MS spectrsopy. Benzoic acid (IC50= 250$mu extrm{g}$/ml) and L-ascorbic acid (IC50=28$mu extrm{g}$/ml), well-known tyrosinase inhibitors. In particular , benzoic acid inhibited markedly the enzymatic browing (melanosis) of apple juices at low concentration of 0.01% and 0.05, comparable to that of L-ascorbic acid (P<0.05). these results suggest that benzoic acid, one of an effective food preservatives, may be potentially useful as a functional alternative to sulfites for the control of melanosis in fruit juices.