Difference Between Astringent and Antiseptic

The key difference between astringent and antiseptic is that astringent is a substance that can shrink or constrict body tissues, whereas antiseptic is a substance that can reduce infections in living tissues.

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Astringent
3. What is Antiseptic
4. Astringent vs Antiseptic in Tabular Form
5. Summary

What is Astringent?

Astringent is a type of substance that can cause shrinkage or constriction of body tissues. Sometimes this substance is also named adstringent. This term derives from the Latin word adstringere, which means “to bind fast.” Some common sources for astringent substances include calamine lotion, witch hazel, and yerba mansa (a Californian plant). Some common substances that act as astringents include alum, acacia, sage, yarrow, bayberry, distilled vinegar, etc.

The astringency of some fruits causes a dry, puckering mouthfeel as a result of the presence of tannins in unripe fruits. This astringency is important for fruit to let itself mature by deterring the consumption by birds and animals. However, there are some ripe fruits that are still astringent, e.g. blackthorn, chokecherry, bird cherry, rhubarb, quince, etc. Banana skin is also very astringent.

Figure 01: Astringent Alum

There are different uses of astringent material in medicine because it can cause constriction or contraction of mucous membranes and the tissues that are exposed to air. Often these substances are used internally for the reduction of discharge of blood serum and mucous secretions. This type of discharge can occur due to sore throat, hemorrhages, diarrhea, and peptic ulcers. When astringent materials are used for external applications, it can cause mild coagulation of skin proteins, dry, harden and protect the skin.

What is Antiseptic?

Antiseptic materials are antimicrobial substances that can be applied to living tissues or skin in order to reduce the possibility of infection, sepsis, putrefaction. We can distinguish antiseptics from antibiotics through the ability of antibiotics to safely destroy bacteria within the body.

There are eight subclasses of antiseptics, and the classes are divided according to the mechanism of action. These classes are phenols, diguanides, quinolines, alcohols, peroxides, iodine, octenidine dihydrochloride, and quat salts. The mode of actions can differ from small molecules being able to react with organic compounds and kill microorganisms to more complex molecules that are able to disrupt the cell walls of the bacteria.

Figure 02: Povidone-iodine Complex, which is a Modern Common Antiseptic Material

Antiseptics are very important in surgical applications; the introduction of these substances was initiated through the publication of the paper Antiseptic Principles of the Practice of Surgery in 1867. This paper was published by Joseph Lister, and the paper was inspired by Louis Pasteur’s germ theory of putrefaction. In his paper, Lister describes the use of phenol as a way of preventing and killing any germ.

What is the Difference Between Astringent and Antiseptic?

Astringent is a type of substance that can cause shrinkage or constriction of body tissues. Antiseptic materials are antimicrobial substances that can be applied to living tissues or skin in order to reduce the possibility of infection, sepsis, putrefaction. The key difference between astringent and antiseptic is that astringent is a substance that can shrink or constrict body tissues, whereas antiseptic is a substance that can reduce infections in living tissues.

The following table summarizes the difference between astringent and antiseptic.