Wartek contains podophyllotoxin in a white cream base for topical application. It is an antimitotic. Podophyllotoxin is derived from the roots of the Indian podophyllum planta metaphase and is inhibitor of dividing cells. Podophyllotoxin solution is used to treat warts on the outside of the genitals. It causes the wart to die and eventually peel off. It acts by preventing viral wart cells from dividing and multiplying. Eventually all the wart cells die and new healthy cells grow in their place. It has mild side effects and is well-suited for treatment at home.

Wartek is applied directly to genital warts. When it penetrates the wart tissue, it has a toxic effect on the nuclei of the wart cells. The nucleus is the cell's control centre. It controls cell division and multiplication (mitosis). This results in the healthy growth of tissue. Genital warts may go away on their own. Also, treating genital warts does not cure infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), the virus that causes genital warts. The virus may remain in the body in an inactive state after warts are removed. A person treated for genital warts may still be able to spread the infection. Condoms may help reduce the risk of HPV infection.

Podophyllotoxin binds to at least one binding site on tubulin. This binding prevents the tubulin polymerization required for microtubule assembly. At higher concentrations podophyllotoxin also inhibits nucleoside transport through the cell membrane. The chemotherapeutic action of podophyllotoxin is assumed to be due to inhibition of growth and the ability to invade the tissue of the virus-infected cells. Podophyllotoxin prevents cell division in the virus-infected cells of the condylomata acuminata.