Fig. 2.

Carnosic acid alleviates depressive-like behavior in ovariectomized mice. Mice were tested for anxiety and exploratory behavior by open field test (a–c) and elevated plus maze test (d, e), and for depressive-like behavior by the sucrose preference test (f), tail suspension test, and forced swim test (g). Drugs and vehicles were administered starting from the 4th week onward, after OVX, and behavioral tests were performed on the 6th week. The data are presented as means ± S. D., and analyzed by one-way ANOVA followed, when significant, by Tukey’s multiple comparisons test. *p < 0.05 and **p ≤ 0.001 compared with control; ^#p < 0. 05 and ^##p ≤ 0.001 compared with OVX group; ^¥p < 0. 05 and ^¥¥p ≤ 0.001 compared with OVX + CA group. OVX, ovariectomized; CA, carnosic acid; SnPP-IX, tin protoporphyrin IX