Anti-atherogenic effects and the reduction in inflammatory activity were analyzed by Wang et al. [166], who demonstrated the inhibition of TNF-α, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), demonstrating that ingesting protocatechuic acid can reduce the pro-inflammatory factors responsible for the worsening of atherosclerosis. Here, TNF is linked to atherosclerosis.