Used primarily in biomedical research, it serves as a key component in inducing experimental colitis in animal models, helping study inflammatory bowel diseases. It is also employed in cell culture applications to inhibit the binding of certain viruses, aiding in virology studies. Additionally, it acts as an anticoagulant in blood collection tubes and is utilized in the purification of proteins and nucleic acids due to its ability to precipitate specific molecules. Its role in cholesterol-lowering studies is notable, as it binds to apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins, facilitating the precipitation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.