FIGURE 2.

After taking TCM, the diversity and abundance of gut microbiota in hypertensive individuals/animals increase. The number of harmful bacteria decreases, while the number of beneficial bacteria increases, leading to a significant improvement in intestinal barrier function, and an increase in gut microbiota metabolites such as SCFAs and BAs. SCFAs can reduce inflammatory responses and inhibit sympathetic nerve output, effectively lowering blood pressure. Primary BAs are stored in the gallbladder and released into the intestine during digestion, where gut microbiota convert them into secondary BAs. These secondary BAs can also reduce vasoconstriction caused by norepinephrine, and can promote vasodilation by directly activating BK(Ca) channels, or by activating FXR and TGR5 to increase the activity of large-conductance BK(Ca) channels, thereby lowering blood pressure.