Astaxanthin ameliorates lung fibrosis in vivo and in vitro by preventing transdifferentiation, inhibiting proliferation, and promoting apoptosis of activated cells.

Highlights: [•] We first found that AST had better anti-lung fibrosis function than dexamethasone. [•] Anti-proliferation and pro-apoptosis effects might be by up-regulation of p53. [•] We establish astaxanthin as a potential drug candidate for lung fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]