Effects of Sanoshashinto on left ventricular hypertrophy and gut microbiota in spontaneously hypertensive rats

In our previous study, we found that the methanolic extract of Sanoshashinto (三黄瀉心湯) (SHXXTM) exhibited significant vasorelaxant effects in vitro and antihypertensive effects in vivo, and baicalin and berberine were the main antihypertensive constituents in SHXXTM. We also speculated that the baicalin–berberine (BB) combination produced vasorelaxant effects by activating the NO/cGMP pathway, and the BK Ca channel and the DAG/PKC/CPI-17 pathway were involved. In this study, we examined the vasorelaxant effects using helical strips of rat aorta pretreated with different activators or inhibitors. The results suggested that the K ATP channel and the voltage-dependent Ca 2+ channel (VDCC) were also involved in the vasorelaxant effects. Furthermore, we found that SHXXTM and the BB combination reduced left ventricular hypertrophy and altered gut microbiota. Together, the results indicated that Sanoshashinto might have comprehensive effects on ameliorating hypertension.