Dr Caroline DECOMBAT 

Assistant Professor (Pharm D/Ph D)

Email : contact
Phone : +33(0)4 73 17 79 93

Field of Research

Recruited as a University Lecturer since 2003 at the University of Auvergne, I joined the ECREIN research team in January 2014. Its main theme is the study of immunocompetent cells involved in intercellular dialogue in response to variations in the microenvironment and the evaluation of the preventive or therapeutic potential of food bioactives.

My research work focuses on the search for new bioactives of plant origin that could modulate the response of immunocompetent cells of interest.

Research Activities                                                    

Since joining the ECREIN team, my research activities have focused on two themes of the team: on the one hand, the study of exchanges between immunocompetent cells and their microenvironment in a context of obesity and on the other hand, the discovery of plant bioactives. My work focuses mainly on the discovery of immunomodulatory bioactives of interest and the determination of their biological effects. In this context, we study the anti-proliferative activity of total plant extracts, partial extracts or pure isolated compounds on the proliferation of different cell types. We then seek to elucidate their mechanisms of action. The search for new molecules, extracted from the plant world, capable of targeting and modulating the activity of immunocompetent cells (and therefore likely to be used for preventive purposes) constitutes a strong development axis in our team. This has been supported by numerous international collaborations (with African countries in particular) for several years but also by collaborations with local industrialists, particularly in the Plantinauv project, an ambitious project aimed at promoting local botanical heritage. In this context, we are studying extracts from Auvergne plants with anti-inflammatory activity and have developed a three-dimensional model representative of cartilage (healthy structure).

Selected publications

1. Cholet J, Decombat C, Vareille-Delarbre M, Gainche M, Berry A, Senejoux F, Ripoche I, Delort L, Vermerie M, Fraisse D, Felgines C, Ranouille E, Berthon JY, Priam J, Saunier E, Tourette A, Troin Y, Thebaud G, Chalard P, Caldefie-Chezet F. In Vitro Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Activities of an Extract from the Roots of Bupleurum rotundifolium. Medicines 2019, 6, 101
2. Cholet J, Decombat C, Vareille-Delarbre M, Gainche M, Berry A, Ogéron C, Ripoche I, Delort L, Vermerie M, Fraisse D, Felgines C, Ranouille E, Berthon JY, Tourette A, Troin Y, Senejoux F, Chalard P, Caldefie-Chezet F. Comparison of the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory mechanisms of two medicinal herbs: Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) and Harpagophytum (Harpagophytum procumbens). International Journal of Plant, Animal and Environmental Sciences 2019, 9(3) 145-163
3. Loumouamou AN, Bikindou K, Ntalani H, Silou T, Chalard P, Danton O, Delort L, Decombat C, Caldefie-Chézet F, Rubat-Coudert C, Figueredo G. Evaluation of the correlation between the chemical profile and the antalgic and anti-proliferative activities of essential oil of Elionurus hensii K.Shum. Advancement in Medicinal Plant Research 2017, 5(3), 41-46.
4. Ramdani LH, Talhi O, Taibi N, Delort L, Decombat C, Silva A, Bachari K, Vasson MP, Caldefie-Chézet F. Effects of Spiro-bisheterocycles on proliferation and apoptosis in human breast cancer cell lines. Anticancer Res. 2016, 36(12), 6399-6408.
5. Billaud EM, Maisonial-Besset A, Rbah-Vidal L, Vidal A, Besse S, Béquignat JB, Decombat C, Degoul F, Audin L, Deloye JB, Dollé F, Kuhnast B, Madelmont JC, Tarrit S, Galmier MJ, Borel M, Auzeloux P, Miot-Noirault E, Chezal JM. Synthesis, radiolabeling and preliminary in vivo evaluation of multimodal radiotracers for PET imaging and targeted radionuclide therapy of pigmented melanoma. Eur J Med Chem. 2015, 6(92), 818-38.

Curriculum Vitae

Formation :

2002   PharmD (industry option) – University of Auvergne -

          PhD Clermont-Fd 1 (Organic chemistry)     

1999    DEA in chemistry - Blaise Pascal University -

1997    First year of Pharmacy – University of Auvergne -

1996    Master's degree in chemistry –Blaise Pascal University -

1992    Bachelor's degree series C

Experience :

2003 to date: Assistant Professor - Clermont Auvergne University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Teaching at the Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry

Research activities :

2003-2011: Research focused on the vectorization of cytotoxic agents to solid tumors within the UMR 990 Molecular Imaging and Vectorized Therapy - University of Auvergne

2014 - Present: Research conducted within the ECREIN team "Cellular Micro-Environment, Immunomodulation and Nutrition", Human Nutrition Unit, UMR 1019 INRA-UCA, Faculty of Pharmacy

Administrative responsibilities:

- Member of the Board of Directors and Secretary of the AFECT (French Association of Teachers of Therapeutic Chemistry)

- Member of the Board of Directors of GIP UNESS.fr (Digital University in Health and Sport)

- Member of the board of the UNSPF (Digital University of French-speaking Pharmaceutical Sciences)

- Co-head of the communication unit of the Clermont-Fd Faculty of Pharmacy