There is also a dearth of information on the nutritive potential of cotton seed in Nigeria. In the mid-western part of Nigeria, Owoh is a popular condiment prepared by fermenting cotton seed. The seed is not normally used in its natural state because it contains some anti-nutritional substances, in particular gossypol, which inhibits digestion. However, the presence of gossypol in the meal has impeded the acceptance of cotton seed flour and cotton seed protein for human food. Whole cotton seed contains up to 1.5–2.0% gossypol, all in the bound form, levels can reach as low as 0.4% in some species of commercial origin.