Cesar G. Fraga

  • Research Chemist, Department of Nutrition

3217A Meyer

(530) 754-6667

cgfraga@ucdavis.edu

Email

Education

  • Ph.D., Chemistry, University of Buenos Aires
  • M.S., Chemistry, University of Buenos Aires

Research Interests

Dr. Fraga´s research program centers on the putative beneficial effects of plant-derived polyphenolic compounds against degenerative disorders, including cardiovascular disease and certain cancers. In this context, his work focuses on the biological properties of flavonoids and their respective in vivo metabolites. Emphasis is placed on studying the impact of these compounds on oxidative defense systems and tissue/cell oxidative damage. The methods employed encompass biochemical, physiological, molecular biological and analytical techniques and involve in vivo animal models as well as various cell culture systems.

Publications

  • E. M. V. de Cavanagh, F. Inserra, L. Ferder, and C. G. Fraga. Enalapril and captopril enhance glutathione-dependent antioxidant defenses in mouse tissues. American Journal of Physiology 278: R572-R577 (2000)
  • D. Rein, S. Lotito, R. R. Holt, C. L. Keen, H. H. Schmitz, and C. G. Fraga. Epicatechin in human plasma: in vivo determination and effect of chocolate consumption on plasma antioxidant capacity. Journal of Nutrition 130: 2109S-2114S (2000)
  • J. F. Wang, D. D. Schramm, R. R. Holt, J. L. Ensunsa, C. G. Fraga, H. H. Schmitz, and C. L. Keen. A dose-response effect from chocolate consumption on plasma epicatechin and oxidative damage. Journal of Nutrition 130: 2115S-2119S (2000)
  • V. B. C. Junqueira, F. Carrasquedo, L. A. Azzalis, K. A. S. Giavarotti, L. Givarotti, L. Rodrigues, C. G. Fraga, A. Boveris, and L. A. Videla. Content of liver and brain ubiquinol-9 and ubiquinol-10 after chronic ethanol intake in rats subjected to two levels of dietary alpha-tocopherol. Free Radical Research. 33: 313-319 (2000)
  • S. B. Lotito, L. Actis-Goretta, M. L. Renart, M. Caligiuri, D. Rein, H. H. Schmitz, F. M. Steimberg, C. L. Keen, and C. G. Fraga. Influence of oligomer chain length on the antioxidant activity of procyanidins. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 276: 945-951 (2000)
  • S. B. Lotito, and C. G. Fraga. Catechins delayed alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene depletion but did not affect ascorbate depletion in human plasma. Proceedings of the Society of Experimental Biology and Medicine 225: 32-38 (2000)
  • R. Filip, S. B. Lotito, G. Ferraro, and C. G. Fraga. Antioxidant activity of Ilex paraguariensis and related species. Nutrition Research 20: 1437-1446 (2000)
  • S. B. Lotito, and C. G. Fraga. Ascorbate protects (+)-catechin from oxidation both in a pure chemical system and human plasma. Biological Research 33: 151-157 (2000)
  • D. Wilhelm Filho, M. A. Torres, J. L. Marcon, C. G. Fraga, and A. Boveris. Comparative antioxidant defences in vertebrates-emphaiss on fish and mammals. Trends in Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 7: 33-45 (2000)
  • C. G. Fraga, J. F. Hammerstone, S. A. Lazarus, H. H. Schmitz, and C. L. Keen. More antioxidants in cocoa (letter to the editor). Journal of Nutrition 131: 835 (2001)
  • E. M. V. de Cavanagh, F. Inserra, J. Toblli, I. Stella, C. G. Fraga, and L. Ferder. Enalapril attenuates oxidative stress in diabetic rats. Hypertension 38: 1130-1136 (2001)
  • E. M. V. de Cavanagh, A. E. Honneger, E. Hofer, R. H. Bordenave, E. O. Bullorsky, N. A. Chasseing, and C. G. Fraga. Higher oxidation and lower antioxidant levels in periphereal blood plasma and bone marrow plasma from advanced cancer patients. Cancer 94: 3247-3252 (2002)
  • R. R. Holt, S. A. Lazarus, M. C. Sullards, Q. Y. Zhu, D. D. Schramm, J. F. Hammerstone, C. G. Fraga, H. H. Schmitz, and C. L. Keen. Dimeric procyanidins in human plasma after the consumption of a flavanol -rich cocoa. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 76: 798-804 (2002)
  • J. I. Ottaviani, F. Carrasquedo, C. L. Keen, S. A. Lazarus, H. H. Schmitz, and C. G. Fraga. Influence of cocoa-derived flavanols and procyanidins on UV-C mediated formation of 8-oxo-7,8-dehydro-2'-deoxyguanosine in isolated DNA. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics 406: 203-208 (2002)
  • C. G. Fraga, and P. I. Oteiza. Iron toxicity and antioxidant nutrients. Toxicology 180: 23-32 (2002)
  • D. Wilhelm Filho, F. Sell, L. Ribeiro, M. Ghislandi, F. Carrasquedo, C. G. Fraga, J. P. Wallauer, P. C. Simoes-Lopes, and M. M. Uhart. A comparison between the antioxidant status of terrestrial and diving mammals. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A 133: 885-892 (2002)
  • S. V. Verstraeten, C. L. Keen, H. H. Schmitz, C. G. Fraga, and P. I. Oteiza. Flavonoid-liposome membrane interactions. Free Radical Biology and Medicine 34: 84-92 (2003)
  • E. M. V. de Cavanagh, B. Piotrkowski, N. Basso, I. Stella, F. Inserra, L. Ferder, and C. G. Fraga. Enalapril and losartan attenuate mitochondrial dysfunction in aged rats. FASEB Journal 17: 1096-1098 (2003) (Epub 2003 Apr 22)
  • C. G. Fraga, and C. L. Keen. Flavanols and procyanidins as modulators of oxidation in vitro and in vivo. In Free Radicals, Nitric Oxide, and Inflammation: Molecular, Biochemical, and Clinical Aspects (A. Tomasi, T. Ozben, and V. P. Skulachev, editores, NATO Science Series, Vol. 344, IOS Press, Netherlands), pp 24-33 (2003)
  • R. Ferreira, C. G. Fraga, F. Carrasquedo, H. Hourquebie, D. Grana, and J. Milei. Comparison between warm blood and crystalloid cardioplegia during open heart surgery. International Journal of Cardiology 90: 253-260 (2003)
  • L. Actis-Goretta, J. I. Ottaviani, C. L. Keen, and C. G. Fraga. Inhibition of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity by flavan-3-ols and procyanidins. FEBS Letters 555: 597-600 (2003)
  • G. G. Mackenzie, F. Carrasquedo, J. M. Delfino, C. L. Keen, C. G. Fraga, and P. I. Oteiza. Epicatechin, catechin and dimeric procyanidins inhibit PMA-induced NF-B activation at multiple steps in Jurkat T cells. FASEB Journal 18: 167-169 (2004) (Epub 2003 Nov 20).
  • M. Sato, C. G. Fraga, and D. K. Das. Induction of the expression of cardio-protective proteins after mild-to-moderate consumption of alcohol. Pathophysiology 10: 139-145 (2004)
  • C. G. Fraga, and A. Boveris. Oxidative stress in aging and disease (editorial). Molecular Aspects of Medicine 25: 1-4 (2004)
  • E. M. V. de Cavanagh, B. Piotrkowski, and C. G. Fraga. Concerted action of the renin-angiotensin system, mitochondria, and antioxidant defenses in aging. Molecular Aspects of Medicine 25: 27-36 (2004)
  • J. Milei, C. G. Fraga, D. R. Grana, R. Ferreira, and G. Ambrosio. Ultrastructural evidence of increased tolerance of hibernating myocardium to cardioplegic ischemia-reperfusion injury. Journal of the American College of Cardiology 43:2329-2336 (2004)
  • S. V. Verstraeten, P. I. Oteiza, and C. G. Fraga. Membrane effects of cocoa procyanidins in liposomes and Jurkat T cells. Biological Research. 37: 293-300 (2004)
  • L. Actis-Goretta, F. Carrasquedo, and C. G. Fraga. The regular supplementation with an antioxidant mixture decrease oxidative stress in healthy humans. Gender effect. Clinica Chimica Acta 349: 97-103 (2004)
  • A. G. Erlejman, S. V. Verstraeten, C. G. Fraga, and P. I. Oteiza. The interaction of flavonoids with membranes: potential determinant of flavonoid antioxidant effects. Free Radical Research 38:1311-1320 (2004)
  • C. L. Keen, R. R. Holt, P. I. Oteiza, C. G. Fraga, and H. H. Schmitz. Cocoa antioxidants and cardiovascular health. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 81: 298S-303S (2005)
  • C. G. Fraga. Cocoa, diabetes and hypertension: should we eat more chocolate? (editorial) American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 81:541-542 (2005)
  • C. G. Fraga, L. Actis-Goretta, F. Carrasquedo, S. B. Lotito, J. I. Ottaviani, S. A. Lazarus, H. H. Schmitz, and C. L. Keen. Regular consumption of a flavonoid-rich chocolate improved markers of cardiovascular health and oxidant stress in young soccer players. Clinical and Developmental Immunology 12:11-17 (2005)
  • P. I. Oteiza, S. V. Verstraeten, A. G. Erlejman, C. L. Keen, and C. G. Fraga. Flavonoid-membrane interactions: a protective role of flavonoids at the membrane surface? Clinical and Developmental Immunology 12:19-25 (2005)
  • S. V. Verstraeten, J. F. Hammerstone, C. L. Keen, C. G. Fraga and P. I. Oteiza. Antioxidant and membrane effects of procyanidin dimers and trimers isolated from peanut and cocoa. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 53:5041-5048 (2005)
  • C. G. Fraga, P. I. Oteiza, C. L. Keen. Trace elements in human health. Molecular Aspects of Medicine 26: 233-234 (2005)
  • C. G. Fraga. Relevance, essentality and toxicity of trace elements in human health. Molecular Aspects of Medicine 26: 235-244 (2005)
  • E. M. V. de Cavanagh, J. E. Toblli, L. Ferder, B. Piotrkowski, I. Stella, C. G. Fraga and F. Inserra. Angiotensin II blockade improves mitochondrial function in spontaneous hypertensive rats. Cellular and Molecular Biology 51:573-578 (2005)
  • J. I. Ottaviani, L. Actis-Goretta, J. J. Villordo, and C. G. Fraga. Procyanidin structure defines the extent and specificity of angiotensin I converting enzyme inhibition. Biochimie 88:359-365 (2006) (Epub Oct 26, 2005)
  • L. Actis-Goretta, J. I. Ottaviani and C. G. Fraga. Inhibition of angiotensin converting enzyme activity by flavanol-rich foods. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54:229-234 (2006)
  • J. Ottaviani, C. L. Keen, and C. G. Fraga. Chocolate and Health. On the vascular effects of flavanols in cocoa. Agro FOOD Industry High-tech 17:IX-XII (2006)
  • A. Erlejman, C. G. Fraga, and P. I. Oteiza. Procyanidins protect Caco-2 cells from bile acid- and oxidant-induced damage. Free Radical Biology and Medicine 41:1247-1256 (2006)
  • S. Das, C. G. Fraga, and D. K. Das. Cardioprotective effect of resveratrol via HO-1 expression involves p38 map kinase and PI-3-kinase signaling, but does not involve NF-κB. Free Radical Research 40:1066-1075 (2006)
  • E. M. V. de Cavanagh, B. Piotrkowski and C. G. Fraga. Angiotensin II blockade and mitochondrial function: role in the retardation of aging. Frontiers in Biosciences (in press)