Saffron is widely used in cooking in many cuisines, ranging from the Milanese risotto of Italy to the bouillabaisse of France to the biryani with various meat accompaniments in South Asia.

There is some evidence to suggest that saffron may help alleviate the symptoms of  major depressive disorders. Preclinical studies indicate that saffron could be a promising candidate for cancer chemo prevention.  Early studies suggest that it may protect the eye from the direct effects of bright light, and from retinal stress in additional to slowing down macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa.