Common Names: West Indian Cotton, Sea Island Cotton, Pima Cotton, Egyptian Cotton, Extra-Long Staple (ELS) Cotton
Local Names: Owu (Yoruba, Nigeria), Akese (Ewe, Ghana), Audugar tsibiri, Audugar masar, Gwundi, Ba gwandara, Batuka, Buke (Hausa, Nigeria), Olulu Ogho (Edo, Nigeria), Owula (Igbo, Nigeria)
Species ID: NMP-080 | wfo-0000707843 | NCBI_Taxonomy ID: 3634

Kingdom: Plantae

Clade: Tracheophytes

Clade: Angiosperms

Clade: Eudicots

Clade: Rosids

Order: Malvales

Family: Malvaceae

Genus: Gossypium

Subgenus: G. subg. Karpas

Species: G. barbadense

Synonyms: Gossypium vitifolium Lam., Gossypium evertum J.B.S.Norton, Gossypium peruvianum Cav., Gossypium brasiliense Macfad.

Gossypium barbadense is a tropical, frost-sensitive perennial shrub or small tree, typically growing 2–3 meters tall, though it can reach 6 meters in traditional systems. Its key morphological features include:

·       Stems: Woody, erect, branching, with a smooth to slightly pubescent texture.

·       Leaves: Broad, dark green, palmately lobed (3–5 lobes), 7–15 cm long and wide, with a slightly hairy undersurface.

·       Flowers: Yellow with a purple or red center, 5–7 cm across, borne singly or in small clusters; petals five, obovate.

·       Fruit: A boll, ovoid, 3–5 cm long, green when immature, splitting open at maturity to reveal black seeds enveloped in long, white, silky fibers (staple length 34–42 mm).

The plant’s tetraploid genome (52 chromosomes) distinguishes it within the subgenus Karpas, contributing to its superior fiber quality (Weakley, 2015).

Gossypium barbadense originated in southwest Ecuador and northwest Peru, likely domesticated by pre-Columbian cultures. It is now cultivated globally in tropical and subtropical regions, including:

·       Americas: Peru, United States (California, Texas, Arizona), Barbados, Brazil (annual rainfall 750–1,500 mm).

·       Africa: Egypt, Sudan, Nigeria (altitude 0–1,200 m).

·       Asia: India, China, Uzbekistan.

·       Oceania: Australia.

It thrives in warm climates (20–30°C), requiring full sun and well-drained, fertile soils (pH 6.0–7.5). Its frost sensitivity limits cultivation to frost-free zones (Porcher & Fick, 2005).

Gossypium barbadense has a rich history in traditional medicine, primarily utilizing seeds, roots, and leaves rather than fibers:

·       Antihypertensive: In Peru, root decoctions treat high blood pressure. Rojas et al. (2009) noted its use among Andean communities, though clinical validation is pending.

·       Analgesic: Seed oil is applied for headaches in West Africa.

·       Antimicrobial: Leaf extracts combat infections in Brazil(De Lima et al.1997).

·       Antiprotozoal: Seeds treat malaria in Nigeria (De Lima et al.1997).

·       Gastrointestinal: Root infusions aid dysentery and abdominal cramps in South America. Hammond et al. (1997) documented its ethnobotanical use in Bolivia.

⚠  Toxicity Profile: Gossypium barbadense seeds contain gossypol, a polyphenolic toxin causing nausea, fatigue, and liver damage at high doses (>1 mg/kg/day). Acute toxicity in rats (>500 mg/kg) includes cardiac irregularities. Pregnant women and livestock are particularly vulnerable; traditional use requires careful dosing (Dodou, 2005).

·       Textile: Produces extra-long staple fibers (34–42 mm), ideal for luxury fabrics like Pima and Egyptian cotton, prized for softness and durability (Porcher & Fick, 2005).

·       Agricultural: Cottonseed oil and meal serve as livestock feed, though gossypol content reduces appeal compared to G. hirsutum (Weakley, 2015).

·       Cultural: Historically significant in Sea Island plantations; fibers were a luxury export by the 18th century (Porcher & Fick, 2005).

• De Lima, L. F., de Oliveira, J. O., Carneiro, J. N. P., Lima, C. N. F., Coutinho, H. D. M., & Morais-Braga, M. F. B. (2021). Ethnobotanical and antimicrobial activities of the Gossypium (Cotton) genus: A review. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 279, 114363.

• Dodou, K. (2005). Investigations on gossypol: Past and present developments. Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs, 14(11), 1419–1434. https://doi.org/10.1517/13543784.14.11.1419

• Hammond, G. B., Fernández, I. D., Villegas, L. F., & Vaisberg, A. J. (1997). A survey of traditional medicinal plants from the Callejón de Huaylas, Department of Ancash, Peru. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 61(1), 17–30. DOI: 10.1016/s0378-8741(98)00009-9

• Porcher, R. D., & Fick, S. (2005). The story of Sea Island cotton. Charleston, SC: Wyrick & Company.

• Rojas, R., Bustamante, B., Bauer, J., Fernández, I., Albán, J., & Lock, O. (2009). Antimicrobial activity of selected Peruvian medicinal plants. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 88(2-3), 199–204. DOI: 10.1016/s0378-8741(03)00212-5

• Weakley, A. S. (2015). Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Herbarium.

• Wikipedia - Gossypium barbadense

• Green Institute - Gossypium barbadense

• GBIF - Gossypium barbadense

• Tropical Plants Database

• β-bisabolol
• Napthalene
• Iso-terpinolene
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• Hexadecyl pentyl ether
• Caryophyllene

Ogunmoye, A. O., Atewolara-Odule, O. C., Olubomehin, O. O., Onajobi, I. B., & Makinde, O. O. (2019). Radical scavenging activity of essential oil from the leaves of Gossypium barbadense (Linn). GSJ, 7(1).