Aldose reductase-IN-1 is primarily used in research to study its inhibitory effects on the aldose reductase enzyme, which plays a significant role in diabetic complications. By inhibiting this enzyme, it helps in reducing the accumulation of sorbitol in cells, which is linked to conditions like diabetic neuropathy, retinopathy, and nephropathy. This compound is valuable in developing therapeutic strategies for managing diabetes-related complications. It is also utilized in biochemical assays to understand the enzyme's mechanism and explore potential drug candidates for diabetes treatment.