Used historically as a vesicant to remove warts and molluscum contagiosum, though its use is limited due to high toxicity. Investigated for potential anticancer properties, particularly in leukemia and hepatocellular carcinoma, due to its ability to inhibit protein phosphatases. Also employed in veterinary medicine, sometimes illicitly, as a purported aphrodisiac or performance enhancer in livestock, despite significant safety risks. Research explores its role in inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in tumor cells.