Cotton, creole cotton (Gossypium barbadense).Plant Part Used: Leaf, flower, root.Dominican Medicinal Uses: The leaf is traditionally prepared as a decoction and taken orally for vaginal infections, genitourinary inflammation, excess vaginal discharge and infections in general. The flower is typically prepared as a decoction and administered as a douche for excess vaginal discharge and genitourinary infections.Safety: No information on the safety of the leaf, root or flower has been identified in the available literature. In human clinical trials the isolated constituent gossypol showed the following adverse effects: hypokalemia, irreversible anti-fertility (in men), fatigue, decreased libido and gastrointestinal disorders.Contraindications: Insufficient information has been identified in the available literature.Drug interactions: Insufficient information has been identified in the available literature.Clinical Data: The isolated constituent gossypol has been investigated in human clinical trials for antifertility effects in men.Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In animal studies the leaf aqueous extract has shown hypotensive effects. In vitro, gossypol has shown antifertility effects against sperm cells.* See entry for Algodón in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.
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