Fig 1: Mulberry extract inhibits the expression of NLRP3 in foam cells via MAPK signaling pathway. Foam cells were induced by treating RAW264.7 macrophages with 50 μg/mL ox‐LDL for 24 hours. The cells were then given mulberry extract at low (5 mg/mL) or high concentration (10 mg/mL) as indicated. Following foam cell features were monitored. (a). Intracellular lipid level measured by Oil Red O staining. (b). Cholesterol ester content. (TC, total cholesterol; FC, free cholesterol; CE, cholesterol ester) qualified by cellular cholesterol assay of foam cells with or without treatment of mulberry extract as indicated. (c). Induced foam cells were treated with different concentrations of mulberry extract (0, 1, 5, 10 mg/mL) for 24 h and protein levels of NLRP3, caspase‐1, ASC, and IL‐1 β were determined by Western blotting. (d) The protein levels of NLRP3, ASC, p‐p38, p38 MAPK, and IL‐1β protein levels of cells undergoing indicated treatments were determined by Western blotting. Graph bars represent qualification of flow cytometry results (Data shown are mean ± SEM. Statistical significance was determined by two‐way ANOVA with correction for multiple comparisons. *p < .01, **p < .001, ***p < .0001, ##p < .01 and ###p < .001.