Vulpinic and gyrophoric acids are known as ultraviolet filters for natural lichen populations, they can effectively prevent cytotoxic, apoptotic and cytoskeleton alterative activities of 2.5 J cm(2) UVB in a dose-dependent manner, suggest that vulpinic and gyrophoric acids can be promising cosmetic ingredients to photo-protect human skin cells. Gyrophoric acid also has anti-proliferative cytotoxic effect.