Cochineal ( Costa) Pigment Extraction Assisted by Ultrasound and Microwave Techniques.

Carminic acid is a natural pigment typically found in several insect taxa, including specific insects such as "grana cochinilla fina" in Mexico ( Costa). Commercially, it is also referred to as carmine, which is a more concentrated solution presenting as at least 50% carminic acid. To date, this dye has been used in the pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic industries.

Characterization of Polyphenolic Compounds from and Their Effects on Wound-Healing Process.

Wounds represent a medical problem that contributes importantly to patient morbidity and to healthcare costs in several pathologies. In Hidalgo, Mexico, the plant has been traditionally used for wound-healing care for several generations; in vitro and in vivo experiments were designed to evaluate the effects of bioactive compounds obtained from a aqueous fraction and to determine the key pathways involved in wound regeneration. Bioactive compounds were characterized by HPLC/QTOF-MS, and proliferation, migration, adhesion, and differentiation studies were conducted on NIH/3T3 fibroblasts.