Vulpinic Acid is a lichen metabolite with anti-inflammatory properties. Vulpinic Acid acts as photoprotective agent and antifungal agent. Vulpinic acid mainly affects cell cycle, glycogen metabolism, transcription and translation to fungi. Vulpinic acid showed very strong inhibition effect on TrxR (mitochondrial thioredoxin reductase), so it may be used as a potential drug for cancer therapy. Vulpinic acid possesses diverse biological activities, and lichens containing Vulpinic acid have a strong history of medicinal use. For example, Eskimos and people of Northern Europe have used lichens containing Vulpinic acid to poison the wolf and fox.Lichens containing Vulpinic acid are used as fodder for reindeer and emergency food by Arctic and Subarctic peoples. In central Europe, members of the genus Cetraria, which is known to produce Vulpinic acid, have been used as laxatives and have been taken for coughing, including that associated with tuberculosis.