A traditional botanical formula attenuates acute pharyngitis in mice through anti-inflammatory and anti-staphylococcal activities.

Introduction: Acute pharyngitis is a common upper respiratory tract infectious disease worldwide. The increasing prevalence of multidrug‑resistant pathogens, particularly methicillin‑resistant Methods: This research focused on examining the protective effects of a traditional sore‑throat composite phytoextract (TSCP) formulated from edible medicinal natural ingredients, while also investigating its underlying mechanisms. An ammonia‑induced acute pharyngitis murine model was employed. Network pharmacology was used to screen potential bioactive components and key therapeutic targets, followed by the molecular biological validation. In vitro assays assessed the antibacterial and anti‑biofilm activities of TSCP. Results and discussion: TSCP dose‑dependently ameliorated abnormal behavioral manifestations, alleviated pharyngeal histopathological injury, and reduced inflammatory cell infiltration in the model mice. Network pharmacology identified 22 potential bioactive components and 174 key therapeutic targets, which were mainly enriched in the PI3K/AKT and NF‑κB signaling pathways. Subsequent molecular validation confirmed that TSCP modulated the PI3K/AKT/NF‑κB signaling axis and significantly downregulated the downstream inflammatory mediators iNOS, COX‑2, and IL‑6. Hematological results showed that TSCP decreased peripheral leukocyte, lymphocyte, and neutrophil levels, indicating a favorable systemic anti‑inflammatory effect.