1. Plural of gossypol; toxic polyphenolic compounds found in cottonseed and other plants of the Gossypium genus, used in research and as a potential male contraceptive.
Usage: technical; chemistry/biology; usually used in plural form

Examples

• Gossypols are naturally occurring compounds in cotton plants that have been studied for their biological effects.
• Researchers have investigated gossypols as a potential male contraceptive agent.
• The presence of gossypols in cottonseed limits its use as animal feed without proper processing.
• Scientists isolated gossypols from cotton plant tissues to examine their chemical structure.
• Gossypols have shown promise in laboratory studies for certain medical applications.