Biological properties of clove have been reported, but little is known about its effect on the immune system. This work was aimed to investigate the effect in vivo of a water-soluble part of hydroalcoholic extract of clove on pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1beta and IL-6) production by macrophages of BALB/c mice. The action of the essential oil of clove on the production of these cytokines macrophages was also investigated in vitro. The chemical compositions of the extract and of the oil were also investigated. Treatment of mice with water extract of clove was found to inhibit macrophages to produce both IL-1beta and IL-6. The essential oil of clove also inhibited the production of these cytokines in vitro. Eugenol was found to be the major component of the clove extract and essential oil, and probably is the causative agent of cytokine inhibition. Taken together, these data suggest an anti-inflammatory action of this spice.

 RESUMOEste trabalho objetivou fazer o levantamento dos impactos do PIBID na formação profissional de ex-bolsistas do curso de Licenciatura na área de Ciências da Natureza (Física, Química e Ciências Biológicas). Foi criado um instrumento de pesquisa baseado nos objetivos do programa. O mesmo foi disponibilizado para bolsistas egressos e ao final da pesquisa, tivemos 35 respondentes. Os resultados foram analisados usando técnicas de análise de conteúdo para classificar as respostas, confrontando-as com os objetivos propostos na criação do PIBID. Como conclusão, podemos destacar que os bolsistas egressos sinalizaram que os objetivos do programa parecem ser cumpridos na totalidade. As respostas sinalizaram que o PIBID contribuiu na formação individual e profissional da maioria dos entrevistados. Além disso, foi identificado que o PIBID ajudou a elevar a qualidade da formação inicial de professores nos cursos de licenciatura, inserindo os alunos no cotidiano da rede pública escolar, proporcionando-lhes oportunidades de planejar e aplicar experiências metodológicas e práticas docentes inovadoras e interdisciplinares. Também verificou-se que o PIBID mobilizou docentes de escolas públicas a participarem da coformação dos licenciandos, contribuindo assim para diminuir a distância entre a teoria e a prática. Palavras-chave: PIBID, formação de professores, impactos do PIBID em cursos de licenciatura. ABSTRACTThis work aimed to survey the impacts of PIBID on the professional training of graduated students of the Licentiate course in the area of Natural Sciences (Physics, Chemistry and Biological Sciences). A research tool was created based on the objectives of the program. The same was made available to fellows graduates and at the end of the research, we had 35 respondents. The results were analyzed using content analysis techniques to classify the responses, comparing them with the proposed objectives in the creation of PIBID. As a conclusion, we can highlight that the graduated students signaled that the objectives of the program seem to have been fulfilled in the totality. The responses indicated that PIBID contributed to the individual and professional training of most respondents. In addition, it was identified that PIBID helped to raise the quality of initial teacher education in undergraduate courses, inserting the students in the daily routine of the public school network, giving them opportunities to plan and apply methodological experiences and innovative and interdisciplinary teaching practices. It was also verified that the PIBID mobilized teachers from public schools to participate in the training of the graduates, Thus helping to reduce the gap between theory and practice.

Liposomes and nanocapsules (NC) are nanotechnologies that allow for controlled drug-release systems, providing slow release of the incorporated or adsorbed substance in the lipid or polymeric particle. Therefore, slow-release FSH-loaded nanocapsules could be an innovative tool for the improvement of production systems. We aimed to evaluate the embryotoxicity of the NC (the vehicle without any incorporation) and analyse the effectiveness of FSH release through the addition of NC to in vitro maturation (IVM). Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC, grades I and II) from follicles ranging 3 to 8 mm were obtained from bovine ovaries from abattoir. Ten to 20 COC were washed in TCM199 hepes medium droplets and, subsequently, in droplets through the specific group to which they were allocated. In experiment 1 (E1), 6 groups (G1, G2, G3, G4, G5, and G6; 5 replicates, n = 76 oocytes/group) were defined: G1 = negative control [1 mL of TCM199 bicarbonate, 5 μL of amikacin (16.67 μg μL–1), 2 μL of pyruvate (0.011 g mL–1)], G2 = experimental control [5 mL of TCM199 bicarbonate, 0.030 g of BSA, 5 μL of FSH (0.1 mg mL–1), 25 μL of amikacin (16.67 mg μL–1), 10 μL of pyruvate (0.011 g mL–1)], G3 = laboratory control [0.9 mL of G2, 100 mL of FCS, 10 μL of LH (50 μg mL–1), and 1 μL of oestradiol] and groups G4, G5, and G6 contained 0.9 mL of G2 plus different concentrations of empty NC: 10% (~0.1 g), 1%, and 0.1% vol/vol, respectively. In the second experiment (E2), we used the same groups, but now groups G4 to G6 were supplemented with FSH derived from NC loaded with FSH (5 replicates, n = 98 oocytes/group). The NC was produced by the coacervation method containing grape seed oil, propylene glycol, isopropyl myristate, and Tween 20 in mixture to the aqueous phase with atelocollagen and xanthan gum. The NC were submitted to sonication and produced without any active compounds for the E1 and incorporated with FSH (10 μg mL–1) for E2. There was a clear morphological difference (expansion) in cumulus cells after IVM (method according to Ali and Sirard 2002 Biol. Reprod. 66, 901–905). Data were analysed with ANOVA and post-hoc Tukey-Kramer. There was no expansion in G1, but cumulus in G2 and G3 expanded as expected (for both experiments). In both E1 and E2 there was partial expansion in G4 while G5 showed full expansion, similar to G2 and G3. Expansion of G6 was fair in E1, but in E2 the G6 expansion was similar to G1 (not expanded). In E1, cleavage (D3) rates of the highest tested concentration of NC [G4 (36.6%)] was different from G2 (72.1%), G3 (68.7%), G5 (59.3%), and G6 (69.5%; P < 0.001). Also in E2, cleavage rates of G4 (28.5%) differed from G2 (61.8%), G3 (77.2%), and G5 (64.9%). The blastocyst production did not differ between groups in E1 (P > 0.1). In E2, the group with the highest concentration of NC tested [G4 (9.5%)] and the control group [G2 (19.5%)] had different blastocyst rates (P < 0.05). Our results suggest a potential toxic effect for the pre-implantation embryo after using NC on the IVM of bovine oocytes.Authors acknowledge funding from grants #12/50533-2, #13/05083-1, #12/24423-5, #13/07730-4, São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP).