10-hydroxy-cis-12-octadecenoic acid (HYA) is produced from linoleic acid in the hydration reaction resulted from Lactobacillus plantarum. HYA indicated an anti-inflammatory effect in the small intestine via GPR40 pathway. In order to examine whether the anxiety-like behavior was changed by the administration of HYA, the open field and elevated plus maze tests evaluated the changes of anxiety-like behavior in Wistar male rats given HYA orally for successive 14 days. The immunohistochemistry evaluated the expression of proteins associated with anxiety-like behavior. The elevated plus maze test indicated the increase the spent time in the open arms, although the open field test indicate the spent time in center time was not changed in HYA group. The numbers of cells indicating strong immunoreactivity against anti-cFos antibody and anti-BDNF antibody were significantly increased in the rat given HYA in the rat hippocampus. Thus, HYA may partially reduce the anxiety-like behavior, increasing the expressions of c-Fos and BDNF proteins in the hippocampus.