What is safranin stains?

Safranin is a biological stain used in histology and microbiology. It is a basic dye that binds to acidic components of cells such as nucleic acids and certain proteins. It is commonly used in combination with other stains such as crystal violet and gram's iodine to differentiate between types of bacteria based on their cell wall compositions. Safranin stains gram-negative bacteria red/pink while gram-positive bacteria appear purple due to the crystal violet stain. Safranin is also used in the medical field to stain tissues for diagnosis of various diseases. It is a popular stain due to its easy availability, affordability, and effectiveness in highlighting cellular structures.