The (+)- and (-)-gossypols potently inhibit human and rat 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2.

Gossypol has been proven to be a very effective male contraceptive. However, clinical trials showed that the major side effect of gossypol was hypokalemia. Gossypol occurs naturally as enantiomeric mixtures of (+)-gossypol and (-)-gossypol.