Gossypol dosage

Gossypol testing is an essential analysis for assessing the safety and quality of cotton-based raw materials, including oilcakes, meals, and vegetable oils. This natural phenolic compound, present in the seeds and roots of Gossypium spp. , is known for its biological properties but also for its potential toxicity when consumed in excess.

Gossypol analysis is used to determine its concentration in products intended for animal or human nutrition and to ensure their compliance with regulatory thresholds. It is a key control in the agri-food, nutraceutical and agricultural sectors.

Gossypol: a natural compound with two facets

Gossypol (CAS No. 303-45-7) is a yellow polyphenol naturally present in cotton plant tissue. It protects the plant against insects and fungi, but is considered an antinutrient for animals and humans. At high concentrations, it can interfere with iron metabolism, disrupt reproduction, and cause toxic effects on the liver and kidneys.

Gossypol exists in two forms: free gossypol , which is biologically active and potentially toxic, and bound gossypol , which is less available but an indicator of chronic contamination. Determination of total and free gossypol is therefore essential for assessing the safety of cotton-derived products.

Interest in gossypol dosage

The dosage of gossypol is part of a quality control and safety approach for plant raw materials:

• check the conformity of cottonseed cakes and flours intended for animal feed,
• control crude or refined vegetable oils for human consumption,
• assess the safety of plant extracts used in nutraceuticals,
• prevent antinutritional effects in food and animal formulations,
• ensure compliance with current European regulations.

In the context of animal feed, the maximum thresholds for free gossypol are set by Regulation (EU) 2017/2229 , in particular at 20 mg/kg for compound feed intended for poultry and 500 mg/kg for feed intended for adult cattle. Analysis of this parameter is therefore mandatory for the placing on the market of products containing cotton or its derivatives.

Analytical method used

The dosage of gossypol is carried out by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) , a reference technique allowing the separation and precise quantification of free and total gossypol. This method is based on the spectrophotometric detection of the compound after extraction in a suitable solvent.

HPLC offers excellent sensitivity and high reproducibility, ensuring that results comply with regulatory and normative requirements. Depending on the matrix type, the analysis may be preceded by a specific preparation step to eliminate lipid or pigment interferences.

For complete monitoring of the quality of plant materials, this service can be combined with other analyses from the YesWeLab catalog, such as aflatoxin dosage , alkaloid dosage, or phytic acid dosage , also involved in the safety and digestibility of plant products.

Sectors of application

The dosage of gossypol mainly concerns:

• animal nutrition , for the control of cottonseed, soybean or rapeseed cakes used in protein formulations,
• the food industry , for checking the purity of cottonseed oils and detecting toxic residues,
• the nutraceutical sector , within the framework of the development of safe and standardized plant extracts,
• agricultural research , for monitoring gossypol in genetically modified or low-gossypol cotton varieties.

Analyses can be supplemented by the measurement of total polyphenols to characterize the overall antioxidant profile, or by the measurement of flavonoids to evaluate the bioactive cofactors present in plant extracts. These data allow a better understanding of the phytochemical profile and the safety of use of raw materials.

Carrying out analyses at YesWeLab

YesWeLab offers gossypol testing through a network of partner laboratories specializing in the analysis of contaminants and phytochemicals. These laboratories have high-performance HPLC equipment and are, for the most part, certified and/or accredited according to the ISO 17025 standard and the COFRAC standard.

Our scientific team supports food manufacturers, nutraceutical formulators and plant ingredient laboratories in defining the most appropriate analytical protocol: determination of free, total or differentiated gossypol according to the matrices.

Thanks to its digital platform, YesWeLab allows you to centralize analysis management, track sample progress, and view results reports online. Since 2020, many players in the food and animal nutrition sectors have trusted YesWeLab to control the quality and regulatory compliance of their plant-based raw materials.

Technical data

• CAS No.: 303-45-7
• Method: HPLC
• Expertise: Physicochemical, nutritional
• Sectors of activity: Nutraceuticals, plants, animal nutrition
• Measured parameters: free and total gossypol

For any specific analysis request or technical advice, contact our team now to obtain a personalized quote and tailored support.