Table 1.

Anti-atherosclerotic effects of different compounds by modulation of autophagy

Compounds	Functions	anti-atherosclerotic effects	References
Everolimus	An mTOR inhibitor, autophagy inducer,	depletion of plaque macrophages, improvement of cholesterol efflux, lowering systemic and local inflammation, inhibiting intra-plaque neovascularization, enhance plaque stability, reduce intimal thickening	[57–60]
Resveratrol	An mTOR inhibitor, autophagy inducer, anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory element,	facilitated the efferocytosis of apoptotic cells, decrease of atherosclerotic size and density of plaque, reducing layer thickness, inhibition of age related changes	[61–64]
Berberine	activation of the AMPK/mTOR, autophagy inducer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-microbial	inhibit inflammatory reactions,	[65, 66]
Β-arrestins	autophagy inducer,	reduce neointimal hyperplasia	[67, 68]
CB2R agonists	autophagy inducer, inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome,	Inhibition of inflammatory response	[70, 71]
statins	mTOR inhibitor, autophagy inducer, anti-inflammatory properties	improvement of EC function, plaque stabilization	[72]
Metformin	stimulation of AMPK, autophagy inducer, anti-inflammatory function,	decrease vascular problems, suppresses vascular senility	[73, 74]