Carboxyatractyloside tripotassium salt is primarily used in biochemical and pharmacological research due to its potent inhibitory effect on the mitochondrial adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT). This inhibition blocks the exchange of ADP and ATP across the inner mitochondrial membrane, effectively halting oxidative phosphorylation. As a result, it is employed as a tool compound to study mitochondrial function, energy metabolism, and mechanisms of cell death, particularly apoptosis and necrosis.

Its high specificity for ANT makes it valuable in experiments investigating mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) formation, which plays a key role in ischemia-reperfusion injury and neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, it has been used to induce controlled mitochondrial dysfunction in cell culture models, helping researchers understand cellular responses to energy depletion.

Due to its extreme toxicity, it is not used in clinical or therapeutic applications but remains important in experimental settings for probing mitochondrial physiology and pathology.