Biochemical analyses were performed to evaluate serum catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), nitrite, and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 activities.<h4>Results and discussion</h4>Astaxanthin, particularly at 10 mg/kg, significantly reduced anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors, comparable to DZP and FXT in four-week-old male Wistar rats. The gene discussed is MMP2; the disease is Anxiety.