International Science Community Association Research Journal of Recent Sciences 2277-2502 9 3 2020 07 2 A review on cochineal (Dactylopius Coccus Costa) dye 37 43 EN Suyani Nitin K. 1 College of Fisheries Science, Junagadh Agricultural University, Veraval, Gujarat, India Vandarwala U.G. 2 College of Fisheries Science, Junagadh Agricultural University, Veraval, Gujarat, India Solanki J.B. 3 College of Fisheries Science, Junagadh Agricultural University, Veraval, Gujarat, India Rathore S.S. 4 College of Fisheries, Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India Patel Ketul 5 College of Fisheries Science, Junagadh Agricultural University, Veraval, Gujarat, India Dany AYITE Yawovi Mawu?a Xolali 1 High National School of Engineers, University of Lome, 01 BP 1515, Lome 01, Togo Abalo P?KLA 2 High National School of Engineers, University of Lome, 01 BP 1515, Lome 01, Togo Irina PACHOUKOVA 3 High National School of Engineers, University of Lome, 01 BP 1515, Lome 01, Togo Koffi-Sa BEDJA 4 High National School of Engineers, University of Lome, 01 BP 1515, Lome 01, Togo Haridas Renjini 1 Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine, Chennai, TN-600013, CCRUM, M/O AYUSH, Govt. of India, New Delhi, India Kunhikannan C. 2 Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Division of Biodiversity, RS Puram, Coimbatore- 641 002, Tamil Nadu, India Kırgız Mehmet Serkan 1 Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul 34320, Turkey Alias Ayuni Nabilah 1 Department of Environmental & Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia Karuppiah Karmegam 2 Department of Environmental & Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia How Vivien 3 Department of Environmental & Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia Perumal Velu 4 Industrial Design Department, Faculty of Design & Architecture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia Deveoglu Ozan 1 Cankiri Karatekin University, Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, Cankiri, Turkey > Review Paper 2019 12 24 2020 07 2 Cochineal (Dactylopius coccus Costa) insect is an important and valuable dye source. Insect red dyes are historically very important. Especially, in the parts of the red or purple coloured of the historical textiles, they were used in the past. It contains 94-98% insect dye which is a carminic acid. A dired type of female of cochineal gives dyes. This insect dye source is an anthraquinone source. It has mostly been used in dyeing of silk, wool, cotton as well as in food colouring, cosmetic sector, pharmaceutical colourants and plastic applications. Natural pigments (lakes) were also obtained from cochineal insect extract in the literature. These lakes were used for paintings, frescoes, restoration and miniature etc. in the past. At the same time, because of its intense hues, colourfastness, and not toxic or carcinogenic, this dye source gained popularity in time. Cochineal produces different colours such as red hues, purple etc. to dye textiles using different mordants. This dye was a symbolizing element of power and prestige in the past. Copyright@ International Science Community Association