Fig. 1

Astaxanthin ameliorated neurologic dysfunctions and alleviated cerebral edema and Evans blue extravasation. A–C Significant improvements in the Garcia score and the rotarod assessment were observed in the astaxanthin-treated group (100 mg/kg) on days 3, 7, and 14 compared to the vehicle-treated group. Similarly, the astaxanthin-treated group exhibited improved spatial learning evaluated by the Morris water maze on days 12, 13, and 14. n = 6 for each group. D Astaxanthin alleviated cerebral edema in a dose-dependent manner at 24 h post-CCI. n = 6 for each group. E Images of dye extravasation in the vehicle-treated group; administration of astaxanthin (100 mg/kg) remarkably reduced Evans blue content in the ipsilateral cortex at 24 h following CCI compared to the vehicle-treated group. n = 6 for each group. Values are the means ± SEMs. *p < 0.05, astaxanthin-treated group versus vehicle-treated group. ^### p < 0.001, vehicle-treated group versus sham group