Carthamin is a natural red pigment derived from safflower (Carthamus tinctorius), earlier known as carthamine. It is used as a dye and a food coloring. As a food additive, it is known as Natural Red 26. Carthamin is composed of two chalconoids; the conjugated bonds being the cause of the red color. It is derived from by a decarboxylase. It should not be confused with , another flavonoid. The carthamin is biosynthesized from a chalcone and two glucose molecules to give and with other glucose molecule, . The next step is the formation of and finally carthamin.