Steroidal Saponin Isolated from Dioscorea alata L. Extract Improve Digestive Tract Allergy in Balb/C Mice Induced by Ovalbumin

Steroidal saponin compound in Dioscorea species is one of the crucial substances because it has some biological functions, such as immunomodulatory and anti-allergic agent. This study aims to analyze the effect of steroidal saponin of Dioscorea alata L. on CD4 T cells activation, cytokines IL-4, IL-5 and TGF-β. This study used primary lymphocyte cell which isolated from BALB/c mice spleen. Mice lymphocytes were cultured in the complete medium with presence of various concentrations (50, 25 and 12.5 µg/mL) of three isolate of steroidal saponin of D. alata for 24 h. Diosgenin was used as positive control. After 24 h of treatment, the activation of lymphocyte, IL-4 and IL-5 production was determined by Flowcytometry analysis. Data were analyzed using student t-test with p < 0.05 and p < 0.01. The results showed that the low concentration of Isolate 1 (12.5 µg/mL) was found to be effective to stimulate the activation of CD4 T cells, reduce the production of IL4 and IL-5 by CD4 T cells and increase TGF-β production. These results showed that a low concentration of steroidal saponin of D. alata could be considered as immunomodulatory and anti-allergic agent. Purification and identification of each isolate isolated from DAE is in progress.