Background/Aims: Previous studies have demonstrated that leonurine, a unique alkaloid compound of Herba leonuri, can exert anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects on the development of atherosclerosis (AS). This study was designed to investigate the effects of leonurine on cholesterol efflux from THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells and development of atherosclerotic lesions in apoE -/- mice, and further determine the potential mechanisms. Methods: Human THP-1 cells were fully differentiated into foam cells by the pre-treatment with phorbol...
