Lichens are organisms in symbiotic relationship with fungi and algae and the pertinent partners are defined as mycobiont and phycobiont, respectively. Lichen metabolites exert a wide variety of biological actions including antibiotic, antimycobacterial, antiviral, antiinflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic and cytotoxic effects. Even though these activities of lichen metabolites have now been recognized their therapeutic potencial has not yet been fully explored. Throughout the ages, lichens have been used for various purposes in folk medicine for treatment of affections such as throat irritation and cough, tuberculosis, asthma and gastrointestinal conditions such as gastritis. This study was aimed at evaluating the expectorant activity of an extract from Cladonia verticillaris and of fumarprotocetraric acid (FUMA) in the mice. Thirty six (36) female Swiss mice, weigthing 40 g were separated into three groups, each one containing twelve animals. Into each group were used four controls animals. Phenol red was injected intraperitoneally, five minutes after, a drug (Ambroxol, the extract and FUMA) was administred orally (0.2 mL). The mice were sacrificed thirty minutes after the dye injection; their tracheas were dissected and cannulated with a blunt. Through this blunt six lung lavages were repeated with 0.5 mL saline. The washing fluids collected were then centrifuged at 1600xg for 10 minutes, in order to separate the red cells. A portion was taken and brought to 3 mL with NaOH 0.01N and the read at 546 nm. The results showed an increase (18%) in phenol red secretion just with the use of the extract from Cladonia verticillaris. On the other hand, this study showed a decrease in phenol red secretion with Ambroxol and FUMA. In this study, extract from Cladonia verticillaris promoted the highest expectorant activity. This result suggest that extract from Cladonia verticillaris enhaced the transportation of sputum from the lower bronchi to the main bronchi. An Improved access to these lichen substances in drug discovery high-troughput screening programs will provide impetus for identifying novel lead-compounds with therapeutic potential and poses new challenges for medicinal chemistry.