Ozone disrupts the intergrity of the cell envelope through peroxidation of the phospholipids and lipoproteins. In fungi, ozone inhibits cell growth at certain stages. With viruses, the ozone damages the viral capsid and disrupts the reproductive cycle by interrupting the virus-to-cell contact with peroxidation. Cells previously infected by viruses are more susceptible to destruction by the peroxide produced through ozonolysis, because they have weak enzyme coatings.

In circulatory disease, a clumping of red blood cells hinders blood flow and becreases oxygen absorption due to reduced surface area. There is a decrease in red blood cell flexibility which prevents them travelling down the tiniest capillaries, and blood viscosity increases. With Ozone therapy, clumping is reduced or eliminated and flexibility is restored, along with oxygen carrying abiltiy. Oxygenation of the tissues increases as the arterial partial pressure increases, and viscosity decreases. Ozone also oxidizes the plaque in arteries allowing the removal of the breakdown products, unclogging vessels.

Ozone causes an increase in the red blood cell glycolysis rate. This leads to the stimulation of 2.3-diphosphoglycerate which shifts the oxyhemoglobin disassociation curve to the right. This leads to an increase in the amount of oxygen released to the surrounding tissues. There is a stimulation of the production of the enzymes which act as free radical scavengers and cell wall protectors: glutathione peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase. Ozone activates the Krebs cycle by enhancing oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate, stimulating production of ATP. Ozone also causes a significant reduction in HADH and helps oxidize cytochromes.

Malignant cells have an increased rate of glycolysis which leads to the production of more lactate. With ozone therapy, there is a significant decrease in lactate production, showing that the metabolism is being inhibited Tumor cells have a peroxide intolerance due to insufficient peroxidase and catalase. Ozone is thus able to oxidize the outer lipid layer of malignant cells and destroy them through cell lysis.

Ozone stimulates the production of interferon and interleukin in the body. From this there is a cascade of subsequent immunological reactions.

Ozone reacts with the unsaturated fatty acids of the lipid layer in celllular membranes, forming hydro peroxides. Lipid peroxidation products include peroxyl radicals, vital for killer cell action.