The enzyme tyrosinase regulates melanogenesis and skin hyperpigmentation by converting L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) into dopaquinone, a key step in the melanin biosynthesis. The present work deals with design and synthesis of various oxindole-based chalcones as monophenolase and diphenolase activity inhibitors of tyrosinase. Among the screened compounds, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene moiety bearing chalcone (7) prepared by one pot reaction of oxindole and vanillin displayed the highest activity against tyrosinase with IC 50 s of 63.37 and 59.71 µM in monophenolase and diphenolase activity assays, respectively. In molecular docking studies, chalcone 7 also showed the highest binding affinity towards the enzyme tyrosinase while exhibiting the lowest estimated free energy of binding, among all the ligands docked.Key words tyrosinase inhibitor; oxindole-based chalcone; melanogenesis; molecular docking Tyrosinase is a major enzyme of melanogenic cascade, accountable for hydroxylation of L-tyrosine to L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) and subsequent oxidation of L-DOPA to dopaquinone, the significant steps in melanin production.