Herein, network pharmacology was used to identify the active components in Ilex kudingcha and common hypertension-related targets. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were conducted, and molecular docking was performed to verify molecular dynamic simulations. Six active components in Ilex kudingcha were identified; furthermore, 123 target genes common to hypertension were identified. Topological analysis revealed the strongly associated proteins, with RELA, AKT1, JUN, TP53, TNF, and MAPK1 being the predicted targets of the studied traditional Chinese medicine. In addition, GO enrichment analysis revealed significant enrichment of biological processes such as oxidative stress, epithelial cell proliferation, cellular response to chemical stress, response to xenobiotic stimulus, and wound healing. Furthermore, KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that the genes were particularly enriched in lipid and atherosclerosis, fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis, and other pathways. Molecular docking revealed that the key components in Ilex kudingcha exhibited good binding potential to the target genes RELA, AKT1, JUN, TP53, TNF, and IL-6. Our study results suggest that Ilex kudingcha plays a role in hypertension treatment by exerting hypolipidemic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects and inhibiting the transcription of atherosclerosis-related genes.

Mites have been a persistent infectious disease affecting both humans and animals since ancient times. In veterinary clinics, the primary approach for treating and managing mite infestations has long been the use of chemical acaricides. However, the widespread use of these chemicals has resulted in significant problems, including drug resistance, drug residues, and environmental pollution, limiting their effectiveness. To address these challenges, researchers have shifted their focus towards natural products that have shown promise both in the laboratory and real-world settings against mite infestations. Natural products have a wide variety of chemical structures and biological activities, including acaricidal properties. This article offers a comprehensive review of the acaricidal capabilities and mechanisms of action of natural products like plant extracts, natural compounds, algae, and microbial metabolites against common animal mites.