Erythromycin, an oral macrolide antibiotic produced by Streptomyces erythreus, reversibly binds to the 50S ribosome of bacteria, and inhibits protein synthesis.

Polymyxin B nonapeptide, a cationic cyclic peptide derived by enzymatic processing from the naturally occurring peptide polymyxin B, is able to increase the permeability of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria toward hydrophobic antibiotics probably by binding to the bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)

Picloxydine has antiplaque and antibacterial activity. Picloxydine has a destructive effect on the bacterial cell wall and plasma membrane, which leads to cell lysis and release of intracellular components.