Used in biochemical research to study the properties of alkaloids from the Erythrina genus, which have potential effects on the central nervous system, particularly interactions with certain neurotransmitter receptors such as nicotinic receptors. This makes it of interest in developing active compounds for treating neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease. It is also investigated for its role in natural product chemistry due to its occurrence in certain plant species. However, it remains in the laboratory research stage and has not yet been applied clinically.