The early stage of atherosclerosis is characterized by the aggregation of foam cells, so called a fatty streak, in the inner arterial wall. CAY10487 inhibits formation of fatty streak lesions of the thoracic aorta in high cholesterol-fed rabbits without affecting plasma lipid profiles or significantly inhibiting ACAT-1 or ACAT-2 activity. The percent area occupied by the atherosclerotic lesion in rabbits supplemented with 0.05% CAY10487 in the diet was 16.1% compared to 53.5% in control rabbits. CAY10487 also exhibits antioxidant activity, inhibiting copper-mediated oxidation of low-density lipoprotein by about 75% at a concentration of 2 μM.