Oxidative stress mediated by gyrophoric acid from the lichen Umbilicaria hirsuta affected apoptosis and stress/survival pathways in HeLa cells.

GA treatment on HeLa cells clearly indicates ROS production and apoptosis as form of occurred cell death. Moreover, DNA damage and changing activity of stress/survival proteins as p38MAPK, Erk1/2 and Akt mediated by GA treatment confirm pro-apoptotic potential. The pharmacological potential of U. hirsuta derived GA is discussed.