Table 2.

List of active molecules used in biocidal formulations (in bold: active biocides mentioned in this review) and their mode of action classified on the basis of active chemical groups.^a

Active chemical groups	Active molecules	General mode of action
Alcohols	Ethanol Benzyl alcohol	Inhibition of DNA and RNA synthesis
Aldehydes	Glutaraldehyde Formaldehyde	Alkylating agents
Amphiphiles	Didecyldimethyammonium chloride Benzalkonium chloride	Membrane destabilizer, cytoplasmic protein aggregation
Azole derivatives	Enilconazole Miconazole Tebuconazole	Inhibition of the ergosterol synthesis, interaction with DNA
Biguanides	Chlorhexidine	Inhibition of membrane-bound adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase)
Carbamates	Bendiocarb Carbendazim Carbofuran	Inactivation of the acetylcholinesterase
Halogens	Chlorine Iodine	Oxidizing agents
Heavy-metal derivates	Copper Silver	Interaction with thiol residues
Neonicotinoids	Imidacloprid Sulfoxaflor	Binding to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors
Organic acids	Lactic acid p-Hydroxybenzoic acid ester Butylparaben	Dissipation of proton motive force and inhibition of uptake amino acids
Organophosphates	Chloramidophos DCPE	Inactivation of the acetylcholinesterase
Phenol, Bisphenol and derivatives	m-Cresol Pentachlorophenol Triclosan	Inhibition of uptake amino acids, modification of membrane potential
Pyrethroids	Allethrin Cypermethrin	Modification of membrane potential
Quinolones	Ciprofloxacin Levofloxacin	Inhibition of the topoisomerase
Terpenes	Limonene trans-cinnamaldehyde Eugenol	Unknown membrane interaction

^aNote that the list is not exhaustive. The reader can consult reference [15] for more details.