The molecule is a tetrahydroxyanthraquinone that is that is 1,3,4,6-tetrahydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone substituted by a methyl group at position 8, a carboxy group at position 7 and a 1,5-anhydro-D-glucitol moiety at position 2 via a C-glycosidic linkage. It is a natural dye isolated from several insects such as Dactylopius coccus. It has a role as an animal metabolite and a histological dye. It is a tetrahydroxyanthraquinone, a monocarboxylic acid and a C-glycosyl compound. It is a conjugate acid of a carminate(2-).
3,5,6,8-tetrahydroxy-1-methyl-9,10-dioxo-7-[(2S,3R,4R,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]anthracene-2-carboxylic acid