Hop-17(21)-en-3β-ol is a triterpenoid alcohol primarily known as a microbial lipid biomarker. It is used in organic geochemistry and paleoenvironmental studies to trace ancient bacterial activity in sediments, soils, and archaeological samples due to its high stability in harsh conditions. Found in plant extracts and microbial sources, it also exhibits potential anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, modulating cellular responses, which makes it of interest in drug development and biological research. Additionally, it serves as a biomarker in phytochemical studies and is utilized in the synthesis of steroidal analogs for evaluation.