Antiseptic solutions work by disrupting the cellular structures or metabolic functions of microorganisms. For example, alcohols, such as ethanol and isopropanol, denature proteins and dissolve lipids, leading to cell lysis. Iodine compounds, like povidone-iodine, penetrate microbial cell walls and inactivate proteins and enzymes. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial in toxicology to predict potential adverse effects on human tissues.
