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Modified Zexie decoction improves phlegm-dampness type stage I hypertension by regulating the gut-immune-kidney axis
Zeqi Hu1, Jiujie Jia1, Yiyan Su2
1College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Indroduction:
Hypertension pathogenesis increasingly implicates gut microbiota-host crosstalk, where immune regulation bridges gut dysbiosis and renal dysfunction. Phlegm-dampness hypertension-a prevalent Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) syndrome typified by metabolic, immune, and renal anomalies-demands novel interventions. Modified Zexie Decoction (MZXD), a TCM formula with documented antihypertensive and anti-inflammatory properties, may target the gut-immune-kidney axis. This study investigated MZXD's efficacy in Stage I phlegm-dampness hypertension via this axis.
Methods:
Thirty Stage I phlegm-dampness hypertension patients received MZXD for 42 days. Pre- and post-treatment measurements included blood pressure, serum immune markers, renal function parameters, gut microbiota, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).
Results:
MZXD significantly reduced systolic/diastolic blood pressure (P < 0.05). Gut microbiota diversity increased, shifting toward healthy profiles. SCFA levels rose markedly (P < 0.01). Immune markers (P < 0.05) and renal function improved (P < 0.05).
Discussion:
MZXD alleviates phlegm-dampness hypertension by modulating the gut-immune-kidney axis: enhancing microbial diversity, boosting SCFAs, attenuating inflammation, and improving renal function. This first systematic validation positions MZXD as a promising multi-target therapy. Future studies should explore clinical scalability and mechanistic depth.
