Hellebrigenol is primarily known for its use in research settings due to its potent biological activity. It has been investigated for its potential as an antitumor agent, showing cytotoxic effects against certain cancer cell lines. Its mechanism involves interaction with cellular ion channels, particularly chloride channels, which can disrupt cellular homeostasis and lead to apoptosis in susceptible cells. Because of its high toxicity, it is not used clinically but serves as a valuable tool in neuroscience and pharmacology for studying ion channel function and cellular signaling pathways. Additionally, derivatives of hellebrigenol are explored to develop compounds with improved selectivity and reduced toxicity for possible therapeutic applications.