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Carmine

(Science: chemical) Colouring matter from the insect coccus cacti l. It is used in foods, pharmaceuticals, toiletries, etc., as a dye, and also has use as a microscopic stain and biological marker.

Pharmacological action: dyes, food colouring agents.

chemical name: 2-Anthracenecarboxylic acid, 7-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-9,10-dihydro-3,5,6,8-tetrahydroxy-1-methyl-9,10-dioxo-