PANEL MEMBERS

Gossypol is a yellow compound produced by the cotton plant that confers resistance to pests. Gossypol exists in two enantiomeric forms, (+) and (-), and is experimentally often used as a racemate, (±)-gossypol, or complexed with acetic acid. (±)-Gossypol is found in cottonseed and cottonseed products in two forms: free gossypol, which is readily extractable with solvents, and bound gossypol. The latter form represents mostly covalent adducts of gossypol to proteins, from which free gossypol can be (partially) liberated by heating with acids. Cottonseeds are by-products of cotton fibre production, and are rich in oil and proteins and are therefore used for cottonseed oil production and as a feed supplement. Storage, steam an