Tags: Chemical Compound, Chemical Substance.
Safranin (also Safranin O or basic red 2) is a biological stain used in histology and cytology. Safranin is used as a counterstain in some staining protocols colouring all cell nuclei red. This is the classic counterstain in both Gram stains and endospore staining. It can also be used for the detection of cartilage mucin and mast cell granules.Safranin typically has the chemical structure shown at right (sometimes described as dimethyl safranin).
