A density functional theory study of the reactivity descriptors and antioxidant behavior of Crocin

A DFT analysis of the antioxidant capacity of scopolin and scopoletin

CONTEXT

Scopolin and scopoletin belong to the class of coumarins and have experimentally proven natural antioxidants. Natural antioxidants are crucial in mitigating the impact of oxidants in the human body through radical scavenging. Even though scopolin and scopoletin are proven antioxidants by experimental results, their antioxidant mechanisms still remained unexplained. In this study, Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were used to study the radical scavenging mechanisms of both scopolin and scopoletin using kinetic and thermodynamics parameters. The global parameters indicated that both scopolin and scopoletin have antioxidant properties. The band gap energy ( Δ E HOMO - LUMO ) revealed that scopoletin (4.18 eV) has strong antioxidant activity compared to scopolin (4.31 eV). These studies found that hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) is the primary mechanism for CH3OO• radical scavenging at the C-H bond in scopolin (91.98 kcal.mol-1) and the O-H bond in scopoletin (77.05 kcal.mol-1) due to their lowest bond dissociation energies. The calculated activation energy ( E a ) for the radical scavenging reaction, reconfirmed scopoletin ( E a =11.19 kcal.mol-1) performed as a better antioxidant compared to scopolin ( E a =20.91 kcal.mol-1). In this study, the results of DFT calculations confirmed that scopoletin exhibits a higher antioxidant capacity, and HAT mechanism is the most effective radical scavenging mechanism.

METHODS

The antioxidant activity of scopolin and scopoletin was determined by DFT at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory. Global parameter calculations and frontier molecular orbital analysis were conducted to assess these compounds' capacity for scavenging radicals. Hydrogen atom transfer (HAT), sequential electron transfer proton transfer (SETPT), and sequential proton loss electron transfer (SPLET) mechanisms were the three main mechanisms that were taken into consideration. The potential energy surface (PES) verified the most appropriate processes shown by the enthalpy calculations.

Computational Chemistry Strategies to Investigate the Antioxidant Activity of Flavonoids-An Overview

Despite several decades of research, the beneficial effect of flavonoids on health is still enigmatic. Here, we focus on the antioxidant effect of flavonoids, which is elementary to their biological activity. A relatively new strategy for obtaining a more accurate understanding of this effect is to leverage computational chemistry. This review systematically presents various computational chemistry indicators employed over the past five years to investigate the antioxidant activity of flavonoids. We categorize these strategies into five aspects: electronic structure analysis, thermodynamic analysis, kinetic analysis, interaction analysis, and bioavailability analysis. The principles, characteristics, and limitations of these methods are discussed, along with current trends.

Antibiofilm activity of carotenoid crocetin against Staphylococcal strains

Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis stand as notorious threats to human beings owing to the myriad of infections they cause. The bacteria readily form biofilms that help in withstanding the effects of antibiotics and the immune system. Intending to combat the biofilm formation and reduce the virulence of the pathogens, we investigated the effects of carotenoids, crocetin, and crocin, on four Staphylococcal strains. Crocetin was found to be the most effective as it diminished the biofilm formation of S. aureus ATCC 6538 significantly at 50 µg/mL without exhibiting bactericidal effect (MIC >800 µg/mL) and also inhibited the formation of biofilm by MSSA 25923 and S. epidermidis at a concentration as low as 2 µg/mL, and that by methicillin-resistant S. aureus MW2 at 100 µg/mL. It displayed minimal to no antibiofilm efficacy on the Gram-negative strains Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa as well as a fungal strain of Candida albicans. It could also curb the formation of fibrils, which partly contributes to the biofilm formation in S. epidermidis. Additionally, the ADME analysis of crocetin proclaims how relatively non-toxic the chemical is. Also, crocetin displayed synergistic antibiofilm characteristics in combination with tobramycin. The presence of a polyene chain with carboxylic acid groups at its ends is hypothesized to contribute to the strong antibiofilm characteristics of crocetin. These findings suggest that using apocarotenoids, particularly crocetin might help curb the biofilm formation by S. aureus and S. epidermidis.

Modulating effects of crocin on lipids and lipoproteins: Mechanisms and potential benefits

Dyslipidemia poses a significant risk to cardiovascular health in both diabetic and non-diabetic individuals. Therefore, it is crucial to normalize lipid homeostasis in order to prevent or minimize complications associated with dyslipidemia. However, pharmacological interventions for controlling lipid metabolism often come with adverse effects. As an alternative, utilizing herbal-based agents, which typically have fewer side effects, holds promise. Crocin, a naturally occurring nutraceutical, has been shown to impact various intracellular pathways, reduce oxidative stress, and alleviate inflammatory processes. Recent evidence suggests that crocin may also confer lipid-related benefits and potentially contribute to the normalization of lipid homeostasis. However, the specific advantages and the cellular pathways involved are not yet well understood. In this review, we present the latest findings regarding the lipid benefits of crocin, which could be instrumental in preventing or reducing disorders associated with dyslipidemia. Additionally, we explore the potential cellular mechanisms and pathways that mediate these lipid benefits.

Competitive adsorption of CO2, N2, and CH4 in coal-derived asphaltenes, a computational study

Greenhouse gases are major contributors to global warming, and their concentration is increasing due to the widespread use of fossil fuels. Coal bed methane (CBM) offers a potential solution to this issue. However, the gas adsorption mechanisms of CBM, particularly in the context of coal-derived asphaltenes, are not fully understood. This study provides a comprehensive theoretical investigation of the competitive adsorption of carbon dioxide (CO2 ), methane (CH4 ), and nitrogen (N2 ) in the processes of CO2 - and N2 -enhanced coalbed methane recovery, with a focus on coal-derived asphaltenes functionalized with CH4 , NH, O, and S groups. Using the Grand Canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulation method and performing Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations, we studied the adsorption process. To investigate the electronic effects and nature of the interactions, we performed density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The adsorption energy values and non-covalent interactions (NCI) for the adsorption of gases signify the physical adsorption (van der Waals interaction), with CO2 exhibiting the highest (absolute) adsorption energy. The Monte Carlo results indicated that elevated temperatures led to a reduction in adsorption capacity. Coal-derived asphaltenes demonstrated greater selectivity for CO2 compared to CH4 and N2 in competitive adsorption, especially at elevated temperatures. Our findings highlight the significant potential of our asphaltene model, not only in mitigating CO2 greenhouse gas emissions but also in recovering CH4 , which is a valuable resource.

Neuroprotection of Truncated Peptide IIAVE from Isochrysis zhanjiangensis: Quantum Chemical, Molecular Docking, and Bioactivity Studies

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder of the elderly for which there is no cure or disease-modifying therapy. Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress play a central role in dopaminergic neurodegeneration in PD. Therefore, antioxidants are considered a promising neuroprotective approach. In in vivo activity studies, 6-OHDA-induced oxidative stress in SH-SY5Y cells was established as a model of PD for cellular experiments. IIAVE (Ile-Ile-Ala-Val-Glu) was derived from Isochrysis zhanjiangensis octapeptide (IIAVEAGC), which has a small molecular weight. The structure and antioxidant activity of IIAVE were tested in a previous study and proved to have good antioxidant potential. In this study, the chemical properties of IIAVE were calculated using quantum chemical methods, including frontier molecular orbital (FMO), molecular electrostatic potential (MEP), natural population analysis (NPA), and global reactivity properties. The interaction of IIAVE with Bcl-2 and DJ-1 was investigated using the molecular docking method. The results showed that IIAVE promoted the activation of the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway and up-regulated the expression of the superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD-1) protein by inhibiting the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells. In addition, IIAVE inhibits ROS production and prevents 6-OHDA-induced oxidative damage by restoring mitochondrial membrane potential. Furthermore, IIAVE inhibited cell apoptosis by increasing the Bcl-2/Bax ratio and inhibiting the activation of Caspase-9 and Caspase-3. Thus, IIAVE may become a potential drug for the treatment and prevention of PD.

A Review on Bioactive Anthraquinone and Derivatives as the Regulators for ROS

Anthraquinones are bioactive natural products, which are often found in medicinal herbs. These compounds exert antioxidant-related pharmacological actions including neuroprotective effects, anti-inflammation, anticancer, hepatoprotective effects and anti-aging, etc. Considering the benefits from their pharmacological use, recently, there was an upsurge in the development and utilization of anthraquinones as reactive oxygen species (ROS) regulators. In this review, a deep discussion was carried out on their antioxidant activities and the structure-activity relationships. The antioxidant mechanisms and the chemistry behind the antioxidant activities of both natural and synthesized compounds were furtherly explored and demonstrated. Due to the specific chemical activity of ROS, antioxidants are essential for human health. Therefore, the development of reagents that regulate the imbalance between ROS formation and elimination should be more extensive and rational, and the exploration of antioxidant mechanisms of anthraquinones may provide new therapeutic tools and ideas for various diseases mediated by ROS.

The protective effect of crocin against testicular toxicity induced by ionizing radiation via AKT/FOXO pathway

Crocin, a pharmacologically active component of Crocus sativus L. (saffron), has been informed to be beneficial in the treatment of stress-related oxidative impairment. In the present study, we examined the protective role of crocin against testicular damage induced by radiation (acute and fractionated) and the alteration of the AKT/FOXO signaling pathway. Male Wister albino rats were exposed to acute dose of 6 Gy and a fractionated dose of gamma radiation (2 Gy every 2 days up to 6 Gy total doses). Rats were pretreated intraperitoneally with crocin in a dose of 50 mg/kg for seven consecutive days prior to exposure to irradiation at a level of 6 Gy and during the fractionated irradiation of rats. Control groups were run concurrently. Ionizing radiation caused changes in the level of oxidative stress biomarkers manifested as elevation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance, total nitrate/nitrite and reactive oxygen species (ROS) associated with a decrease in catalase as well as in the level of inflammatory parameters (decrease in expression of Nrf2 which was related to a significant increase in expression of NF-κB p65). Irradiation produced cellular damage characterized by an increase in serum lactate dehydrogenase. These findings were aligned with increased expression of the forkhead box O-1 (FOXO-1) and activation of protein kinase B (AKT) pathway. Irradiation of rats led to reduction in serum testosterone level and testicular weights. Pretreatment with the indicated dose of crocin shielded against the changes in all the evaluated parameters. Administration of crocin can be introduced as a novel preclinical approach for regulation of testicular damage induced by radiation; via controlling the ongoing oxidative stress and inflammatory reaction as well as activation FOXO/AKT signaling pathway.

Unveiling the Intimate Mechanism of the Crocin Antioxidant Properties by Radiolytic Analysis and Molecular Simulations

The successive steps of the oxidation mechanism of crocin, a major compound of saffron, by the free OH^• radical are investigated by pulse radiolysis, steady-state (gamma) radiolysis methods, and molecular simulations. The optical absorption properties of the transient species and their reaction rate constants are determined. The absorption spectrum of the oxidized radical of crocin resulting from the H-abstraction presents a maximum of 678 nm and a band of 441 nm, almost as intense as that of crocin. The spectrum of the covalent dimer of this radical contains an intense band at 441 nm and a weaker band at 330 nm. The final oxidized crocin, issued from radical disproportionation, absorbs weaker with a maximum of 330 nm. The molecular simulation results suggest that the OH^• radical is electrostatically attracted by the terminal sugar and is scavenged predominantly by the neighbor methyl site of the polyene chain as in a sugar-driven mechanism. Based on detailed experimental and theoretical investigations, the antioxidant properties of crocin are highlighted.

Crocins for Ischemic Stroke: A Review of Current Evidence

Crocins (CRs) and the related active constituents derived from Crocus sativus L. (Saffron) have demonstrated protective effects against cerebral ischemia and ischemic stroke, with various bioactivities including neuroprotection, anti-neuroinflammation, antioxidant, and cardiovascular protection. Among CRs, crocin (CR) has been shown to act on multiple mechanisms and signaling pathways involved in ischemic stroke, including mitochondrial apoptosis, nuclear factor kappa light chain enhancer of B cells pathway, S100 calcium-binding protein B, interleukin-6 and vascular endothelial growth factor-A. CR is generally safe and well-tolerated. Pharmacokinetic studies indicate that CR has poor bioavailability and needs to convert to crocetin (CC) in order to cross the blood-brain barrier. Clinical studies have shown the efficacy of saffron and CR in treating various conditions, including metabolic syndrome, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, and coronary artery disease. There is evidence supporting CR as a treatment for ischemic stroke, although further studies are needed to confirm their efficacy and safety in clinical settings.

A Comparative DFT Study on the Antioxidant Activity of some Novel 3-hydroxypyridine-4-one Derivatives

The current study on the antioxidant activity of Kojic acid and 3-hydroxypyridine-4-one derivatives was performed by implementation of density functional theory calculations with the B3LYP hybrid functional and the 6-311++ G** basis set in Polarizable Continuum Model. Compounds under evaluation were previously synthesized by our research group. The DPPH scavenging effect and IC 50 values of them in mM concentrations were evaluated. Subsequently, various electronic and energetic descriptors such as HOMO and LUMO energy gaps, bonding dissociation enthalpy of OH bond, ionization potential, electron affinity, hardness, and softness, NBOs and spin density of radical and neutral species were used to study antioxidant properties of investigated compounds. The computations detected two compounds, HP3 and HP4 , with significant antioxidant activity. Energetic descriptors indicated that SPLET mechanism is preferred over than other antioxidant mechanism and computational results were in accordance with the experimental results.

Improving the antioxidant activity of natural antioxidant honokiol by introducing the amino group

Exploring and synthesizing the compounds with stronger antioxidant activity have always been the goal of researchers. Herein, the substitution effects of the amino (NH₂-) group with the excellent electron-donating ability in different positions on the antioxidant activity of Honokiol (Hon) were systematically explored by using the quantum chemistry calculation based on the density functional theory method. The three possible antioxidant mechanisms of Hon and its four NH₂-substituted derivatives (Hon1-Hon4), containing the hydrogen atom transfer (HAT), single electron transfer followed by proton transfer (SET-PT), and sequential proton loss electron transfer (SPLET), were explored in depth considering the gas and solvent phases. In addition, the frontier molecular orbital energies, natural bond orbital (NBO) charge population, and global descriptive parameters were used to study their antioxidant activity. The results indicate that compared with the original molecule Hon, the NH₂ substituents would have the stronger antioxidant activity. Moreover, the radical scavenging process of Hon and its derivatives has a disposition to the HAT and SPLET mechanisms in the gas and solvent phases, respectively. Meaningfully, owing to the lowest bond dissociation enthalpy and proton affinity values, Hon4 would show the most prominent antioxidant activity by comparison with the other compounds. In conclusion, this work will provide the purposeful reference for designing and synthesizing the antioxidants with more outstanding performance.

Synthesis, In Vitro, and In Silico Analysis of the Antioxidative Activity of Dapsone Imine Derivatives

Dapsone (DDS) is an antibacterial drug with well-known antioxidant properties. However, the antioxidant behavior of its derivatives has not been well explored. In the present work, the antioxidant activity of 10 dapsone derivatives 4-substituted was determined by an evaluation in two in vitro models (DPPH radical scavenging assay and ferric reducing antioxidant power). These imine derivatives 1-10 were obtained through condensation between DDS and the corresponding aromatic aldehydes 4-substuited. Three derivatives presented better results than DDS in the determination of DPPH (2, 9, and 10). Likewise, we have three compounds with better reducing activity than dapsone (4, 9, and 10). In order to be more insight, the redox process, a conceptual DFT analysis was carried out. Molecular descriptors such as electronic distribution, the total charge accepting/donating capacity (I/A), and the partial charge accepting/donating capacity (ω⁺/ω^-) were calculated to analyze the relative donor-acceptor capacity through employing a donor acceptor map (DAM). The DFT calculation allowed us to establish a relationship between GAP_HOMO-LUMO and DAM with the observed antioxidant effects. According to the results, we concluded that compounds 2 and 3 have the lowest R_a values, representing a good antioxidant behavior observed experimentally in DPPH radical capturing. On the other hand, derivatives 4, 9, and 10 display the best reducing capacity activity with the highest ω^- and R_d values. Consequently, we propose these compounds as the best antireductants in our DDS imine derivative series.

Density functional theory studies of the antioxidants-a review

The following review article attempts to compare the antioxidant activity of the compounds. For this purpose, density functional theory/Becke three-parameter Lee-Yang-Parr (DFT/B3LYP) methodology was carried out instead of using pharmacological methodologies because of economic benefits and high accuracy. This methodology filtrates the compounds with the lowest antioxidant activity. At first, the Koopmans' theorem was carried out to calculate some descriptors to compare antioxidants. The energy of the highest occupied molecular orbitals (HOMO) was accepted as the best indicator, and then some studies confirmed that the highest occupied molecular orbital/lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO-LUMO) energy gap is the more precise descriptor. Although it would be better to compare spin density distribution (SDD) on the oxygen of the corresponding radical in the polarizable continuum model (PCM) to evaluate their capability to chain reaction inhibition. Next, it was mentioned that in the multi-target directed ligands (MTDLs), the antioxidant is connected to other moieties in para positions to create better antioxidants or novel hybrid compounds. Indeed, SDD was introduced as a descriptor for MTDL antioxidant effectiveness. Then, the relation between antioxidants and aromaticity was investigated. The more the aromaticity of an antioxidant, the more stable the corresponding radical is. Subsequently, in preferred antioxidant activity, it was defined that the hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) mechanism is more favored in metabolism phase I. It has been seen that the solvent model can change the antioxidant mechanism. Therefore, the solvent model is more important than the chemical structure of antioxidants, and an ideal antioxidant should be evaluated in PCM for pharmacological evaluations.

Enhancement of neuroprotection, antioxidant capacity, and water-solubility of crocins by transglucosylation using dextransucrase under high hydrostatic pressure

Crocin, one of the major carotenoid pigments of Crocus sativus (saffron), is responsible for antioxidant activity, neuroprotection, and the inhibition of tumor cell proliferation. In order to improve the functionality of crocin, α-glucosyl-(1→6)-trans-crocins (C-Gs) were synthesized using sucrose and dextransucrase from Leuconostoc mesenteroides. High hydrostatic pressure (HHP) technique was applied to the synthesis process of C-Gs in order to improve its transglucosylation yield. A 100 MPa HHP condition enhanced the production yield of C-Gs by 1.95 times compared to that of 0.1 MPa atmospheric pressure. Novel C-Gs were purified by HPLC, and their chemical structures were determined using NMR analysis. Novel C-Gs increased water solubility 4.6-5.7 times and antioxidant activity 1.5-2.6 times, respectively, compared to crocin, and their neuroprotections (cell viability 92.5-100.4 %) on HT22 mouse hippocampal neuronal cells were significantly higher than that of crocin (cell viability 84.6 %). This advanced neuroprotection of novel C-Gs could be highly associated with their enhanced antioxidant activity. Thus, the enhanced water solubility and functionality of novel C-Gs can induce better clinical efficacy of neuroprotection than trans-crocin.

Antioxidant properties of Aloe vera components: a DFT theoretical evaluation

Prediction of the antioxidant activity of three Aloe vera components (aloesone, aloe-emodin, and isoeleutheol) was performed based on density functional theory calculations using the B3LYP hybrid functional and the 6-311++ G** basis set. Calculation of highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO), lowest occupied molecular orbital (LUMO), and E_gap revealed that aloe-emodin has the lowest E_gap value, indicating good antioxidant activity. Also in terms of electron affinity, softness, electrophilicity, and chemical potential, aloe-emodin is a potent structure with potential high radical scavenging activity. Calculation of the ionisation potential revealed that isoeleutherol likely also possesses a high degree of antiradical scavenging. To study the conjugating system of the radicals, density plots of HOMO, natural bond orbital analyses, and spin density plots were used. According to calculations, the isoeleutherol radical is more delocalised and the most stable radical. Calculated proton affinity values revealed that the most probable antioxidant mechanism is sequential proton loss-electron transfer. Our results were compared with available experimental data. Published experimental data were found to correlate well with our theoretical predictions. These results support the usefulness of theoretical calculations not only for identifying potentially useful structures of studied compounds but also for predicting their relative activity.

DFT and QTAIM based investigation on the structure and antioxidant behavior of lichen substances Atranorin, Evernic acid and Diffractaic acid

In this study, the structural and antioxidant behavior of the three lichen-derived natural compounds such as atranorin (AT), evernic acid (EV) and diffractaic acid (DF) has been investigated in the gas and water phase using both B3LYP and M06-2X functional level of density functional theory (DFT) with two different basis sets 6-31+G (d, p) and 6-311++G (d, p). The intramolecular H-bonds (IHB) strength, aromaticity and noncovalent interactions (NCI) have been computed with the help of the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM). This calculation gives major structural characteristics that indirectly influence the antioxidant behavior of the investigated compounds. The spin density (SD) delocalization of the unpaired electron is found to be the main stabilizing factor of neutral and cationic radical species. The main mechanisms, recommended in the literature, for the antioxidant action of polyphenols as radical scavengers such as hydrogen atom transfer (HAT), single electron transfer followed by proton transfer (SET-PT), and sequential proton loss electron transfer (SPLET), were examined. The result shows that the HAT and SPLET mechanism are the most conceivable one for the antioxidant action of this class of compounds in gas and water phase respectively. Preference of SPLET over HAT in water phase is due to the significantly lower value of proton affinity (PA) compared to the bond dissociation enthalpy (BDE) value. This study reveals that O₂-H₃, O₉-H₂₆ and O₄-H₄₅ respectively are the most favored site of AT, EV and DF for homolytic as well as heterolytic OH bond breaking.

Crocin, a carotenoid component of Crocus cativus, exerts inhibitory effects on L-type Ca(2+) current, Ca(2+) transient, and contractility in rat ventricular myocytes

Crocin, a carotenoid component of Crocus sativus L. belonging to the Iridaceae family, has demonstrated cardioprotective effects. To investigate the cellular mechanisms of these cardioprotective effects, here we studied the influence of crocin on L-type Ca(2+)current (I(Ca-L)), intracellular Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)]i), and contraction of isolated rat cardiomyocytes by using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique and video-based edge detection and dual excitation fluorescence photomultiplier systems. Crocin inhibited I(Ca-L) in a concentration-dependent manner with the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 45 μmol/L and the maximal inhibitory effect of 72.195% ± 1.54%. Neither current-voltage relationship of I(Ca-L), reversal potential of I(Ca-L), nor the activation/inactivation of I(Ca-L) was significantly changed. Crocin at 1 μmol/L reduced cell shortening by 44.64% ± 2.12% and the peak value of the Ca(2+) transient by 23.66% ± 4.52%. Crocin significantly reduced amplitudes of myocyte shortening and [Ca(2+)]i with an increase in the time to reach 10% of the peak (Tp) and a decrease in the time to 10% of the baseline (Tr). Thus, the cardioprotective effects of crocin may be attributed to the attenuation of [Ca(2+)]i through the inhibition of I(Ca-L) in rat cardiomyocytes and negative inotropic effects on myocardial contractility.

The role of structural C--H compared with phenolic OH sites on the antioxidant activity of oleuropein and its derivatives as a great non-flavonoid family of the olive components: a DFT study

Oleuropein and its derivatives are the main phenolic compounds of Olea europaea L. leaf and fruit. The structure-antioxidant activity relationship was considered for studying the radical scavenging activity of this non-flavonoid family of the olive components using density functional theory (DFT). The structure of these compounds were optimized employing the B3LYP/6-31G (d,p) and the role of some structural CH positions was compared with phenolic OH sites on radical scavenging. As a result, a radical unique position (C3) in the oleuropein, characterized by low BDE (Bond Dissociation Enthalpy), reasonable spin density and electron distribution, was identified. The experimental results of the previous publications of oleuropein for NO and OH scavenging confirmed the presence of this unique active site in its molecular structure. According to the results, 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) cannot find this non-marginal active site. Therefore, DPPH may not be a determinant assay for all antioxidant comparisons. Solvent effects were considered in all calculations using a Polarized Continuum Model (PCM) at the B3LYP/6-31G (d,p) level. Solvation calculations were carried out for benzene (ε=2.3) to simulate the oil environment compared to gas phase.