Gossypium, metabolites

Perhaps most conspicuous by their absence from the list (cf. Table VIII) are the alkaloids. These substances, generally defined as nitrogen-containing secondary metabolites, are common plant products and usually have distinct physiological activities. Nevertheless, to date no reports seem to have appeared concerning the presence (or absence) of alkaloids as Gossypium metabolites. 

The purpose of this paper, then, is to present an organized summary of the known secondary metabolites of Gossypium, in order to provide a conceptual platform for further work toward identification of organic substances which may play a causative role in byssinosis. 

A few groups have made substantial progress toward the identification of Gossypium secondary metabolites. Stlpanovic, in collaboration with Wakelyn, Bell, and others, has identified several compounds, primarily cadlnane sesquiterpenolds (17, 21 - 28, 31). Hedin s group has used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify a wide variety of substances which may be derived from the cotton plant (8 - 1, 20). Brzozowska, Hanower,... 

On the other hand, some compounds which are Included may not be true Gossypium secondary metabolites. Not only are the sources mentioned above possible contributors of exogenous compounds which have been Included in the accompanying Tables (I - X), but also it is quite possible that methods of isolation and analysis caused molecular transformation which created Isomers of true metabolites or even caused more drastic alterations. The diversity of structures which are plausible natural products is so great that it is not reasonable to exclude many of those reported simply on the basis of structure assignment. For this reason, it can be expected that some errors of inclusion have been made. 

---