Astaxanthin alleviates inflammatory pain by regulating the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor-erythroid factor 2-related factor/heme oxygenase-1 pathways in mice

Astaxanthin suppressed the CFA-induced upregulation of p38 MAPK and enhanced Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. Additionally, AST reduced the inflammatory response ( e.g. , inflammatory cells and pro-inflammatory factors) to alleviate symptoms of inflammatory pain.