Context: Polyphenols are naturally occurring compounds found in fruits, vegetables, cereals, and beverages. Polyphenols occupy a unique place in biological science for their pharmacological properties. Gossypol is a polyphenolic compound that has attracted attention because of its biological effects.
Objective: Gossypol is reported to exhibit antifertility, antioxidant, anticancer, antivirus, antiparasitic, and antimicrobial properties and lower plasma cholesterol. These are summarized with attention to the mechanisms of activity.
Methods: This review summarizes the results of studies obtained in a comprehensive search of ScienceDirect, PubMed, Scirus, and Web of Science.
Results and conclusion: The results of these studies provide a comprehensive understanding of the biological action of gossypol and its potential for the prevention of and therapy for resistant tumors and chronic human diseases such as HIV, malaria, and psoriasis.