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

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.