5-CQA attenuated oleic acid (OA)-induced lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells. (A) Cultured cells demonstrated lipid accumulation induced by OA (300 μM) for 24 h. Cells were co-treated with OA and indicated concentrations of 5-CQA (40, 80, or 120 μM) for 24 h. Cellular neutral lipid was stained with Oil Red O and the representative photo was taken. Quantitation was determined using colorimetric analysis as described in the text. (B) Lipid accumulation was determined by the Nile red flow cytometry analysis. The cellular lipid content (a minimum of 10,000 cells per sample) was measured using BD biosciences FACscan with CellQuestTM Pro software. The data are expressed as mean ± SD from three independent samples for each group. # p < 0.05, in relation to the control group. * p < 0.05, in relation to the OA-induced group.