The Extract of Kincung Flower (Etlingera elatior (Jack) R.M.Sm.) Activity to Decrease IL-4 and IgE Levels in Type I Hypersensitivity White Male Mice

Introduction: Kincung Flower (Etlingera elatior (Jack) R.M.Sm.) is a herbal plant which contains many secondary metabolites. It showed to suppress allergic reactions by inhibiting mast cell degranulation, active cutaneous anaphylaxis and decreasing the number of basophils and eosinophils. Aim: The study conducted to determine the decreased IL-4 and IgE level of type I hypersensitivity male white mice using kincung flowers extract. Materials and Methods: The maceration method used to make ethanol extract of Kincung flower (Etlingera elatior (Jack) R.M.Sm.). The research used 25 allergic male white mice, which made by injected 20% albumen that given on the first day 0.2 mL/20 g intraperitoneally. On the seventh day are given albumen with the same dose subcutaneously. The characteristic of the allergic mice is the redness at the injection site. It divided into five groups: the negative control group, the positive control group and three dose groups (100; 300; and 1000 mg/kg). After mice given extract for seven days, then measured IgE and IL-4 levels in the serum of mice. Results: The results after three dose groups (100; 300; and 1000 mg/kg) given, the negative and positive control group showed sequentially the IL-4 level was: 33.024; 27.933; 25.192; 23.130 and 41.538 ng/ mL. And IgE level in serum was 0.944; 0.629; 0.210; and 1,597 μg/ mL. Conclusion: It concluded that kincung flowers decreased IL-4 and IgE level significantly (p<0.05). So it could use as an anti-allergic drug.