It is mostly used by pharmaceutical companies and in the manufacturing process. It is a lightweight hydrocarbon used chiefly as a nonpolar solvent. The extract of aerial parts of ageratum conyzoids in petroleum ether plays an essential role for the isolation of sigmasterol and beta sitosterol. Crude petroleum spirit and methanol extracts also play an important role for the screening of antimicrobial activity of the stem bark, leaves and roots of Ficus thoningii.

This Thermo Scientific Chemicals brand product was originally part of the Alfa Aesar product portfolio. Some documentation and label information may refer to the legacy brand. The original Alfa Aesar product / item code or SKU reference has not changed as a part of the brand transition to Thermo Scientific Chemicals.