Alsterpaullone is primarily used in biomedical research as a potent inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), particularly CDK1, CDK2, CDK4, and CDK5. Its ability to selectively block these kinases makes it a valuable tool for studying cell cycle regulation and neuronal function. It has shown promise in neuroprotection studies, where it helps reduce neuronal death in models of neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, alsterpaullone induces apoptosis in cancer cells, making it a candidate for anticancer research, especially in leukemia and solid tumor models. It is also used to enhance reprogramming efficiency in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) generation by suppressing unwanted cell differentiation pathways. Due to its role in modulating glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3), it is further applied in studies related to Wnt signaling and developmental biology.