Saffron has been used as a traditional medicine for a long time . Modern medicine has also discovered itas having anticarcinogenic ( cancer-suppressing ) , anti-mutagenic ( mutation-preventing ) , immunomodulating , and antioxidant-like properties . Medicinally , saffron has a long history as part of traditional healing ; modern medicine has also discovered saffron as having anticarcinogenic ( cancer-suppressing ) , anti-mutagenic ( mutation-preventing ) , immunomodulating , and antioxidant-like properties .