Artesunate attenuates foam cell formation by enhancing cholesterol efflux

Atherosclerosis is the main cause of many cardiovascular diseases and the second leading cause of death in elderly people. The formation of intimal macrophage-derived foam cells is a major feature of early atherosclerotic lesions. Little is known about the effects of artesunate (ART) on macrophage-derived foam cell formation.Oil red O staining was employed to detect foam cell formation; colorimetric analysis was employed for cholesterol...