Understand The Application Range Of Gossypium Arboreum L. Tree Cotton

Tree cotton (scientific name: Gossypium arboreum L.)， It is an annual herb or subshrub belonging to the cotton genus of Malvaceae.

Tree cotton can reach 2-3 meters in height, with palmately 5-parted leaves, solitary flowers and axils, light cup shaped calyx, light yellow corolla, dark purple inner surface at the base, conical capsule, gradually narrow top, often drooping, separated seeds, ovoid.

Tree cotton is native to India, and is still widely cultivated in tropical Asia and Africa. In China, tree cotton used to be one of the cultivated cotton varieties for hundreds of years, including Yuyao cotton, Pudong cotton, Xihe cotton, etc.

The cotton fiber of tree cotton is coarse and short, and the seeds can be used for pressing oil. In addition, the white milk secreted by the stems and leaves of tree cotton can be used to extract anti-cancer drugs. The ingredients contained in the juice can supplement petrochemical fuels, and can also be used to develop plant pesticides, plant rubber, etc. Tree cotton fiber has application potential in the textile industry. It is suitable for the production of light, thin and warm organic, green and environmentally friendly knitting products that can absorb moisture and keep warm.

Tree cotton and kapok are really two different plants:

They all belong to Malvaceae, but belong to different genera.

1. Gossypium: Gossypium is a kind of cotton, belonging to Malvaceae, which is mainly used to produce cotton fiber. Cotton fiber is an important textile raw material, which is used to make all kinds of clothes and textiles.

2. Kapok (Bombax ceiba)： Kapok, also known as Kapok and Panzhihua, belongs to the genus Kapok of Malvaceae, and is a large deciduous tree. Kapok is large and bright, often used as an ornamental plant, and its fiber can also be used to make paper and rope.

The main difference between the two lies in their use and morphological characteristics. Tree cotton is mainly used in textile industry, while kapok fiber has other uses besides ornamental value.

Although the tree cotton fiber is relatively short, it is still widely used. The following are some main application fields of tree cotton fiber:

　　1. Textile industry: Tree cotton fiber can be used to produce light, thin, warm, hygroscopic and warm organic, green, environmentally friendly middle and high-grade knitting products. It can be blended with cotton, viscose or other cellulose fibers to make clothing fabrics with good luster and feel. In addition, tree cotton fiber is also suitable for making underwear, sweaters, T-shirts, shirts, jeans, woolen clothes, ski shirts, socks, etc.

2. Home textile products: Tree cotton fiber is widely used in bedding, mattresses, sheets, bedspreads, tapestries, blankets, pillowcases, cushions, face towels, bath towels, bathrobes and other home textile products because of its soft and warm properties.

3. Thermal insulation and sound absorption materials: Tree cotton fiber can be used as the filler of the thermal insulation layer and sound absorption layer of the house, and has excellent characteristics of thermal insulation, sound insulation, heat preservation and buoyancy materials.

4. Tourism and entertainment products: The new uses of tree cotton fiber also include tourism and entertainment products.

　　5. Biomedicine and biomass energy fields: Tree cotton fiber is also used in biomedicine and biomass energy fields. The white milk secreted by tree cotton stems and leaves can be used to extract anti-cancer drugs; The ingredients contained in the juice can supplement petrochemical fuels, and can also develop plant pesticides, plant rubber, etc.

In conclusion, although the tree cotton fiber is relatively short, it is widely used in many fields, especially in textile and home textile products. Tree cotton fiber is favored because of its unique physical and chemical properties.

Medical application of tree cotton stem and leaf secretions:

It is mainly related to the specific chemical composition it contains. The following are some specific application methods:

　　1. Anti tumor effect: Gossypol, a component in the secretion of tree cotton stems and leaves, has been proved to have anti-tumor effect. Gossypol can reduce the activity of cancer cells and down regulate the expression of multiple genes. Research shows that gossypol can promote apoptosis of cancer cells by interfering with tubulin, stopping mitotic process, and interrupting cell growth. In clinic, gossypol is mainly used to treat some types of cancer, including prostate cancer.

2. Antiviral activity: The derivatives of gossypol also show antiviral activity and can be used as candidates for antiviral drugs.

3. Anti malaria activity: Some derivatives of gossypol have shown anti malaria activity, which indicates that they may have potential application value in malaria treatment.

4. Contraceptive effect: Gossypol has also been studied for the development of male oral contraceptives, because it can affect the vitality and function of sperm.

5. Hemostasis: some parts of tree cotton are used in traditional medicine to stop bleeding, especially in the treatment of hematemesis, hematochezia, blood avalanche and golden sore bleeding.

These applications show that the stem and leaf secretion of tree cotton has many potential in the medical field. However, it should be noted that gossypol also has certain toxicity, so in clinical application, the dosage and mode of use need to be strictly controlled. Further research and clinical trials are necessary to ensure its safety and effectiveness.

Spinnability of tree cotton fiber:

The length and quality indexes of tree cotton fiber are as follows:

1. Fiber length: According to the search results, the average length of tree cotton fiber is 34.175mm, similar to fine pile cotton. This length range makes tree cotton fiber suitable for spinning.

2. Fiber fineness: The fineness of tree cotton fiber is 1628 microns (um), close to the fineness of cashmere, which makes the tree cotton fiber have good softness and warmth retention.

3. Hollowness: The hollowness of tree cotton fiber is between 80% and 90%, which helps to improve its warmth retention performance.

4. Specific gravity and linear density of single fiber: the specific gravity of single fiber of tree cotton fiber is 0.3, and the linear density is between 0.93 and 0.97.

5. Moisture regain and water content: moisture regain of tree cotton fiber is 13.49%, and water content is 11.88%.

6. Breaking strength: the breaking strength of tree cotton fiber is 3.42.

As for the spinnability of spinning, the tree cotton fiber is completely suitable for the R&D and production in the knitting field due to its characteristics of new woody natural fibers. It is suitable for the production of light, thin, warm, organic, green and environmentally friendly knitting products that are both hygroscopic and warm.

At present, there are technologies that can blend tree cotton fiber and cotton into 40 yarns (using siro spinning technology) and 21 yarns (using ring spinning technology). However, in large-scale application of tree cotton fiber, it is necessary to overcome the problems of flying flowers, poor cohesion and sliver forming, which is also an important subject of tree cotton fiber spinning technology innovation and process innovation.

To sum up, the length and quality indicators of tree cotton fiber make it have the potential of spinning, especially in blended and knitted products.