Gossypium arboreum Linn.

Family Malvaceae.

Habitat Cultivated all over India as a fibre plant.

English Tree Cotton, Desi Cotton. Ayurvedic Kaarpaasi.

Siddha/Tamil Sempartthi (Red Cotton), Sivappuparutthi.

Folk Kapaasa.

Action Seed—anticatarrhal (used in consumption), antigonorrhoeic (used in gleet and chronic cystitis). Root—febrifuge. Plant (especially leaf)—uterine stimulant.

The glands contain 35—50% gossypol, a polyphenolic toxic compound. Seeds contain 18.5—25.4% protein, 0.57—2.38% free gossypol. Gossypol is a male contraceptive. At an initial dose of 20 mg/day orally for 3 months, followed by 50—60 mg weekly maintenance dose, sperm motility is reduced initially as it inhibits important enzymes of metabolic pathways thus affecting availability of enzyme to spermatozoa. Subsequently sperm production is blocked.

Gossypol is reported to cause a transient weakness early in therapy, hypokalaemia and changes in ECG among other side effects.

Gossypol also assists menstrual flow and effectively inhibits eggs implantation.

Gossypol and its derivatives have been shown to have significant antimicrobial activity as well as wound healing effect. It is reported to kill herpes virus.