Sterigmatocystin is classified under the mycotoxin family of compounds that is usually produced by fungi of several species of Aspergillus.

Initiates lung and liver tumors under experimental conditions.

Sterigmatocystin may be used as an analytical reference standard for the determination of the analyte in, Grain samples by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray positive ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ES⁺ MS/MS). Sweet pepper samples by LC-ESI⁺ MS/MS.