Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of indole alkaloids, cadambine plays a role in pharmaceutical research, particularly in studies focused on natural product chemistry and drug discovery. It has been investigated for its potential bioactive properties, including anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. Due to its structural complexity, it serves as a model compound for developing new synthetic methodologies in organic chemistry. Additionally, cadambine is studied for its biosynthetic pathways in plants, aiding in the understanding of enzyme mechanisms in alkaloid formation.