Used as a selective inhibitor of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), heptelidic acid is valuable in biochemical research for studying the pentose phosphate pathway. It helps modulate cellular redox balance by suppressing NADPH production, making it useful in cancer research where altered metabolism in tumor cells is investigated. It has also been explored for its potential antimicrobial and antifungal properties. Due to its specific mode of action, it serves as a tool compound in metabolic studies and enzyme activity assays.