Carminio di cocciniglia or Cochineal or Carminic acid, is an additive used as a red dye in the food industry, in cosmetics and medicine.

It can be produced naturally by the female Coccus cacti L. (Dactylopius coccus) (1) taken from its body or by eggs, or by way of chemical synthesis and it is the most commonly observed case in food products.

The major producers of this acid are:

• Peru 78%
• Chile 17%
• Canary Islands 1.5%

Food

It is the colour E120 on the list of European food additives.

Cosmetics

Colorant. This ingredient has the primary function of colouring the solution in which it is inserted in a temporary, semi-permanent or permanent manner, either alone or in the presence of the complementary components added for colouring.

Hair dyeing. It is an ingredient that adds a colouring to the hair that can be temporary, semi-permanent or permanent depending on what other ingredients are added to achieve the result. The pH for hair dyeing is generally between 9 and 10.

Safety

Hair dyeing. It is an ingredient that adds a colouring to the hair that can be temporary, semi-permanent or permanent depending on what other ingredients are added to achieve the result. The pH for hair dyeing is generally between 9 and 10.

There are contraindications for health related to the use of this additive.

In particular allergies were found (2) and the Council of Europe recommended a containment of the protein level in E120 (3) with purification systems (4).

There are conflicting studies on the carcinogenicity of the product.

A relationship has been established between the intake of this acid in the diet (0.3 - 6% daily) and the formation of tumors in animals (5).

On the other hand, a positive property of the cochineal extract (CE) was detected (6).

Cochineal studies

Molecular Formula: C₂₂H₂₀O₁₃

Molecular Weight: 492.389 g/mol

CAS: 1260-17-9    1390-65-4  1343-78-8  1389-34-0  16667-06-4  476-39-1  632-55-3  37349-49-8  131802-72-7

EC Number: 215-680-6  215-724-4  215-724-4  215-023-3

FEMA Number: 2242

Colour Index Number 75470

Synonyms:

• Carminic acid
• Coccus cacti extract
• Natural red 4
• Carmine
• CI Natural Red 4
• Coccinellin
• E120
• 3,5,6,8-Tetrahydroxy-1-methyl-9,10-dioxo-7-((2S,3R,4R,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)-9,10-dihydroanthracene-2-carboxylic acid
• C.I. Natural red 4
• Sanred 1
• Sun Red 1
• 2-Anthracenecarboxylic acid, 7-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-9,10-dihydro-3,5,6,8-tetrahydroxy-1-methyl-9,10-
• yl]anthracene-2-carboxylic acid
• 2-Anthroic acid, 7-D-glucopyrosyl-9,10-dihydro-3,5,6,8-tetrahydroxy-1-methyl-9,10-dioxo-
• 7beta-D-Glucopyranosyl-9,10-dihydro-3,5,6,8-tetrahydroxy-1-methyl-9,10-dioxo-2-anthracenecarboxylic
• 7-D-Glucopyranosyl-9,10-dihydro-3,5,6,8-tetrahydroxy-1-methyl-9,10-dioxo-2-anthroic acid
• glucitol
• 3,5,6,8-tetrahydroxy-1-methyl-9,10-dioxo-7-[(2S,3R,4R,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-

References_________________________________________________________________________

 (1) Perez Guerra, G. and M. Kosztarab, Biosystematics of the family Dactylopiidae (Homoptera: coccinea) with emphasis on the life cycle od Dactylopius coccus Costa, in Studies if Morphology and Systematics of Scale Insects. 1992: Blacksburg, Virginia..

(2) Shaw DW. - Allergic contact dermatitis from carmine. Dermatitis. 2009 Sep-Oct;20(5):292-5.

Chung, K., et al., Identification of carmine allergens among three carmine allergy patients. Allergy, 2001. 56(1): p. 73-7.
Acero, S., et al., Occupational asthma and food allergy due to carmine. Allergy, 1998. 53(9): p. 897-901.
Beaudouin, E., et al., Food anaphylaxis following ingestion of carmine. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol, 1995. 74(5): p. 427-30.

(3) en_1995L0045_do_001.pdf, h.e.e.i.e.-l.e.c.p., CONSLEG 1995L0045-10/05/2004. 2004, Official Publications of the European Communities

(4) Scopes, R.K., Protein purification : principles and practice. 3rd ed. Springer advanced texts in chemistry. 1994, New York: Springer-Verlag. xix, 380.

(5) Mori H, Iwata H, Tanaka T, Morishita Y, Mori Y, Kojima T, Okumura A. Carcinogenicity study of cochineal in B6C3F1 mice. Food Chem Toxicol. 1991 Sep;29(9):585-8.

(6) Kemmochi S, Yamamichi S, Shimamoto K, Onda N, Hasumi K, Suzuki K, Mitsumori K, Shibutani M. Lac color inhibits development of rat thyroid carcinomas through targeting activation of plasma hyaluronan-binding protein. Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2012 Jun;237(6):728-38. doi: 10.1258/ebm.2012.011319. Epub 2012 Jun 19. 

Kemmochi S, Shimamoto K, Shiraki A, Onda N, Hasumi K, Suzuki K, Mitsumori K, Shibutani M. Promoting effects of carminic acid-enriched cochineal extracts on capsular invasive thyroid carcinomas through targeting activation of angiogenesis in rats.  J Toxicol Sci. 2012;37(3):475-82.