Lathyrol is primarily used in research settings for its biological activity, particularly in studies related to cancer and inflammation. It has shown potential as an anti-tumor agent due to its ability to inhibit certain signaling pathways involved in cell proliferation and survival. Researchers also investigate lathyrol for its anti-inflammatory properties, especially in modulating immune responses. Its structure serves as a template for developing synthetic analogs with improved pharmacological profiles. Due to its complex diterpene framework, lathyrol is of interest in organic synthesis for developing new methodologies and exploring structure-activity relationships in natural product derivatives.