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Chemical and microscopic studies of the matrix substance in pigment glands of cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) seeds
Author(s) -
Yatsu Lawrence,
Jacks Thomas J.,
Kircher Henry W.,
Godshall Mary An
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
journal of the american oil chemists' society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.512
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1558-9331
pISSN - 0003-021X
DOI - 10.1007/bf02645746
Subject(s) - gossypol , matrix (chemical analysis) , pigment , arabinogalactan , malvaceae , chemistry , botany , biology , biochemistry , chromatography , organic chemistry , cell wall
Cottonseeds contain gossypol, a toxic substance, that renders the otherwise nutritious seeds inedible. However, because the gossypol is concentrated in small, intercellular glands, it is possible to separate gossypol from other seed constituents by pulverizing the seeds and removing the glands. This procedure is practicable because gossypol remains with the glands even during seed pulverization and manipulation in hexane. Many believe that the gossypol remains within the glands because the glands are virtually indestructible, protected by tough, resilient “plates.” However, we show that most of the isolated glands are broken after comminution. The gossypol is held in a water‐soluble matrix within the lumen of the glands. Analysis of aqueous extracts of isolated glands showed that the bulk of the extract is a non‐dialyzable arabinogalactan. We suggest that the matrix substance is an arabinogalactan.