The reason it is in section “superfoods” is that some of the spice health benefits include promoting mental health, enhancing the skin, preventing hair loss, supporting respiratory health, increasing sexual vitality, pain relieving, supporting hormonal system, support heart health, promoting good digestion and good for optimal cell function.

            Some early research shows that taking a chemical from saffron called crocetin might decrease fatigue in men during exercise thus improving performance.

           It has been shown to have similar mood benefits as antidepressant drugs. Safranal and crocin, two compounds present in saffron, regulate neurochemicals such as dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine which help reduce symptoms of depression.

          It can aid in coughing and cold as it acts as an expectorant which loosens the phlegm from the lungs and throat. Saffron also acts as an anti-inflammatory substance as well as a stimulant. Both qualities are helpful against asthma.

        This spice is known as powerful aphrodisiac. Saffron has the capacity to increase vitality even in older men. Most importantly, it helps for erectile dysfunction, preventing infertility and premature ejaculation.

        Volatile compounds the spice can effectively remove free radicals that can cause cell degeneration by containing around 150 biological chemicals including antioxidants, carotenoids, crocin, and safranal which are beneficial in promoting cell growth and cell repair.

         Crocin has been found to trigger apoptosis (programmed cell death) in a number of different types of human cancer cells, leukemia, ovarian carcinoma, colon adenocarcinoma, and soft tissue sarcoma. It has been discovered that saffron and its active components possess an ability to inhibit human malignant cells that become cancerous, but also stimulates normal cells in their formation and that of lymphocytes (immune cells that help destroy cancer cells).

References:

1. https://www.naturalfoodseries.com/11-benefits-saffron/
2. https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-844/saffron
3. https://food.ndtv.com/health/7-health-benefits-of-saffron-the-priceless-spice-1263525