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The Effects of Substituted Benzimidazoles on the Growth of Viruses and the Nucleic Acid Metabolism of Host Cells

Imperial Chemical Industries Limited, Pharmaceuticals Division, Alderley Park, Macclesfield, Cheshire

The antiviral effects of three substituted benzimidazoles, 4,5,6,trichloro-1--D-ribofuranosyl benzimidazole, 2-mercapto-1-(-4-pyridethyl) benzimidazole and 2-(-hydroxybenzyl) benzimidazone, have been investigated and compared with their effects on the RNA metabolism of the host cells.

4,5,6,trichloro-1--D-ribofuranosyl benzimidazole and 2-mercapto-1-(-4-pyridethyl) benzimidazole inhibit the growth of influenza A and parainfluenza 1 in calf kidney cells, and vaccinia in L cells, but they also reduce the synthesis of cellular RNA proportionately. They inhibit the growth of EMC in L cells, but only at concentrations at which host cell RNA synthesis is very much reduced. Their action is therefore not specific to a virus induced process.

In contrast, 2-(-hydroxybenzyl) benzimidazole suppresses the growth of encephalomyocarditis virus in L cells at concentrations which have little effect on host cell RNA synthesis.

Received 15 July 1966; accepted 17 September 1966.