TNF and atherosclerosis: Nevertheless, it has been observed that diosgenin inhibits expression of VCAM-1 (vascular cell adhesion molecule) and ICAM-1 (intracellular adhesion molecule), proteins involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, abolishes TNF-α induced production of intracellular ROS and inhibits NF-κB and IκB kinase activation, along with subsequent degradation of IκBα, and nuclear translocation of NF-κB.