Carmine

Data on this paint is preserved in ancient sources. Thus, for example, Anania Shirakatsi mentions a carmine in the VII century ^[1] :

Ararat comprises mountains and fields, abundance in all and Lake Gailato. It produces worms from the root of a famous herb, from which red paint is prepared ^[2] .

Earlier there is a mention in the pharmaceutical work of De Materia Medica Dioscoride (I century AD) ^{[3] [1]} :

ἀρίστη δέ ἐστιν ἡ Γαλατικὴ καὶ ρμενιακ, ἔπειτα ἡ Ἀσιαν καὶ Κιλίκιος, ἐσχάτη δὲ παῶ Σπάάη .

Carmine is obtained from cochineal - female insect Mexican cochineal ( Dactylopius coccus ), cultivated on cacti - opuntia . Insects are harvested in the period preceding the laying of eggs and carmine is extracted from them, due to the laboriousness of collecting cochineal and making carmine, at its cost it is more expensive than other dyes. Using a stiff brush or cochineal blade, remove it from the plants. From dried and crushed insects, a powder is obtained, treated with a solution of ammonia or sodium carbonate, and then filtered in solution ^[4] .

Carmine's dye is carminic acid, a derivative of 1-hydroxyanthraquinone. The color of carminic acid depends on the acidity of the medium. At pH _F = 3 (acidic) the color is orange, red at slightly acidic pH = 5.5 and purple at pH = 7. It forms complexes with metal cations, such as aluminum, with the result that red diamond pigments are obtained. Apply lime to obtain delicate shades.

Currently, carmine is mined mainly in Peru , the country holds 95% of the world market. In 2017, Peru exported 647 tons of carmine ^[5] .

Since ancient times, carmine ^{[6] has been} used to dye fabrics and yarn, from which carpets , both pile and lint-free, were woven, and miniatures of ancient parchments were written with this paint. In Armenia, the production of this type of paint has been known since ancient times. Abu Ishaq al-Istahri, a well-known 10th century Arab writer, wrote ^[7] :

In England, cochineal was used for dyeing fabrics used to make traditional army uniforms .

In microscopy it is used for staining of histological preparations.

Food Applications

In industry, it is used as a food additive E120 (as a dye ), as a perfume pigment .

Carmine extract, liquid - for all types of sausages with a small replacement of raw meat, as well as for injection of whole-muscle delicacies.

Carmine dye application area: meat processing industry, dairy, confectionery, fish processing industry, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

• Kermesit
• Nutritional supplements

• Agnes Korn, Georg Warning. Armenian karmir, Sogdian karmīr 'red', Hebrew karmīl and the Armenian Scale / Textile Terminology, 1000 BC to 1000 AD / Edited by Salvatore Gaspa, Cécile Michel, Marie-Louise Nosch . - Zea Books, 2017. - p. 173–188.

• Bug-Based Food Dye Should Be ... Exterminated, Says CSPI (Eng.) . Center for Science in the Public Interest (1 May 2006). The appeal date is April 20, 2018.