Du-24565 is a potent and selective inhibitor of the synaptosomal uptake of serotonin. At higher concentration, it affects the uptake of norepinephrine and dopamine. It is a potential antidepressant and can be useful as a pharmacological tool to study the role of 5-HT in the central nervous system. DU-24565 had little effect on serotonin or tyrosine accumulation in human melanoma cells but suppressed the uptake of extracellular Dopa. In vitro, DU-24565 inhibited the proliferation of PC-3, DU-145 and LNCaP human prostate carcinoma cells in a dose-dependent manner.

Dibutyl phosphate is be used as a precursor for antistatics, a mold release agent in polyurethane applications, and a non-volatile acidic catalyst in organic media. It is also used in many industrial applications as a surfactant because of its exceptional properties of wetting, emulsification, lubrication, coupling activity and detergency. Biologically Dibutyl phosphate is used as a diagnostic urine marker for exposure to certain toxic alkyl-phosphate compounds found in insecticides and industrial lubricants.