棉酚为棉子及棉根皮中的生物学活性物质,1972年初步试用于男子节育时即已表明,本品在一定剂量下可使精液中精子失活,然后消失;亦表明,此作用是可逆的,停药后不久即恢复,而且对性功能影响不大。棉酚也具有某些抗肿瘤活性,1973年以来国内即试用于治疗肿瘤,但治程中少数患者发生低血钾性肌无力或低血钾性心功能紊乱。此后,低 Gossypol as cotton and cotton root bark bioactive substances, preliminary tests in 1972 for men during birth control has shown that this product can make a certain dose of sperm in sperm inactivation, and then disappear; also shows that this role Is reversible, recovery shortly after stopping, and little effect on sexual function. Gossypol also has some anti-tumor activity, since 1973 that the domestic trial for the treatment of cancer, but a small number of patients in the course of hypoglycemic myopathy or hypokalemic cardiac dysfunction. After that, low