Wortmannin is primarily used in biomedical research as a potent and specific inhibitor of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), a key enzyme involved in cell signaling pathways related to growth, survival, and metabolism. By inhibiting PI3K, wortmannin helps scientists study the role of this pathway in cancer, inflammation, and insulin signaling. It is widely used in cell culture experiments to block Akt activation, a downstream effector of PI3K, allowing researchers to dissect signaling mechanisms in diseases like diabetes and various cancers. Due to its ability to sensitize cells to radiation and chemotherapy, wortmannin has also been explored in preclinical studies for enhancing the effectiveness of anticancer treatments. However, its toxicity and instability limit its use in clinical applications.