Why is penicillin effective in treating diseases?

Penicillin is effective in treating diseases primarily because it kills the microorganisms responsible for the infection. It accomplishes this by targeting the bacterial cell wall, a vital structure that provides rigidity and protection to bacterial cells. When penicillin interferes with the synthesis of this cell wall, it leads to the deterioration of the cell structure, ultimately causing the bacteria to burst and die.

This mechanism makes penicillin particularly useful for bacterial infections, as it selectively affects bacteria without harming human cells. The effectiveness of penicillin can be attributed to its ability to directly eliminate the pathogens causing the disease, thus assisting the body in recovering from the infection more efficiently.