Objective To study the effect of icariin ( ICA) on apoptosis and inflammation of leukemic mouse macrophages (RAW264. 7) induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), and to clarify the anti-arterial effect of ICA and the role of atherosclerosis (AS). Methods RAW264. 7 cells were treated with ox-LDL to induce foam cell models. The effects of low, medium, and high doses of ICA on RAW264. 7 cell viability, apoptosis, foaming and secretion of inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α were investigated. Western blot was used to assess the effect of ICA on protein expression of Bcl-2, Bax, Caspase-3, IκBα and NF-κB p65. Results ICA improved cell viability and reduced apoptosis, the formation of foamy macrophages, secretion of inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, Bcl-2, Caspase-3 and NF-κB p65 protein expression, and up-regulated protein expression of Bax and IκBα. Conclusions ICA reduces apoptosis of foamy macrophages and inhibits the expression of inflammatory factors, thereby delaying the development of atherosclerosis.