Salvia miltiorrhiza bunge extract improves the Th17/Treg imbalance and modulates gut microbiota of hypertensive rats induced by high-salt diet

Abstract

The traditional Chinese medicinal herb Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (SM) is widely used for hypertension complications, yet its mechanism remains undefined. This study assessed SM extract effects on Th17/Treg cells and gut microbiota in rats with an high-salt diet (HSD, 4 %Nacl)-induced hypertension. SM (1 mL/100 g) restored hypertensive rats' blood pressure to controls, regulating Th17/Treg balance, selectively increasing Treg cells. It improved gut dysbiosis from HSD, reducing Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio (P < 0.001), notably augmenting beneficial Prevotellaceae. Correlation analysis linked SM's therapeutic effect to Th17/Treg changes and specific genera presence like Prevotellaceae, Bacteroides, Lactobacillus. SM effectively regulated HSD-induced hypertension, likely by balancing Th17/Treg axis and altering gut microbiota. These findings support SM's potential for treating HSD-induced hypertension.

Keywords

• Salvia Miltiorrhiza Bunge
• Hypertension
• High-salt diet
• Th17/Treg cell
• Gut microbiota