title: The antianxiety-like effect of astaxanthin extracted from Paracoccus carotinifaciens.
abstract: Astaxanthin is a red carotenoid pigment and is widely found in living organisms. Astaxanthin has a potent antioxidative ability and has been reported as having various biological effects on the central nerve system, such as a protective effect against ischemia/reperfusion injury and improvement in cognitive function. In this study, to investigate the effects of astaxanthin on anxiety and depression, we performed some behavioral trials including the elevated plus maze test, hole-board test, forced swim test, and tail suspension test. Astaxanthin (100 and 300 mg/kg/day for 10 days, p.o.) significantly increased the time spent in open arms in the elevated plus maze test and increased the head-dipping count and duration in the hole-board test. On the other hand, astaxanthin (10, 100, 300, and 500 mg/kg/day for 10 days, p.o.) did not change the immobility time in the forced swim test or the tail suspension test. In conclusion, in mice, astaxanthin exerted anxiolytic-like effects, but not antidepressant-like effects.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biofunctional Evaluation, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, 1-25-4 Daigaku-nishi, Gifu, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishioka
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oyagi
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsuruma
authors.forename: Masamitsu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimazawa
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishibashi
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D046353:Immobility Response, Tonic / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D010230:Paracoccus / Q000737:chemistry*; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D024341:Xanthophylls; C005948:astaxanthine