Preparation of Water-Soluble Combination Products of Gossypol and their Toxicity to Aquarium Fish.

Abstract

Gossypol, the principal pigment of cottonseed, was combined with materials of natural origin, such as proteins, amino acids, and carbohydrates, to produce products that were soluble or dispersible in water or buffer solns. at pH 7. These products were prepd. by mixing gossypol and the protein or other material to be combined with it in aqueous soln. at alkaline pH, neutralization of that mixture, and drying by lyophilization. These water-soluble products were lethal to goldfish at concns. as small as 1 part in 100,000 parts of water. An aqueous soln. of gossypol-peanut protein maintained its toxicity and its original gossypol content for at least 48 hrs. Cottonseed pigment glands were shown to be less toxic than these gossypol combination complexes. Crystalline gossypol, when added to the aquarium bath, displayed no visible toxic effects on the goldfish.