In vitro CULTURE OF COCHINEAL EMBRYO CELLS (Dactylopius coccus Costa) AT SEVERAL pH

Abstract

In order to determine the optimal pH level at which cochineal insect (Dactylopius coccus Costa) cell cultures produce carminic acid in
vitro at peak levels, several pH (4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0 and 6.5) and centrifuge fractions (0, 2, 5 and 10 min) combinations were tested on cochineal insect embryos growing in a Schneider’s nutritive medium. Carminic acid content was determined by high precision liquid chromatography. Dye extraction was achieved using a HCl 2M solution. Detection levels were between 1.0 and 120.0 mg L^-1. The effect of pH was not significatively different among pH treatments, but the intermediate pH (5.5) showed more carminic acid and higher number of cell lines.