Regarding the pathways involved in the protective effect of astaxanthin in cerebral infarction, a study evidenced that pretreatment with astaxanthin resulted in an increased protein expression of Nrf2 (nuclear), HO-1, Bcl-2, CAT, SOD, and GPX while decreasing the content of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, MDA, Bax and Nrf2 (cytosolic) [171]. The gene discussed is NFE2L2; the disease is brain infarction.