Forty-three 2-[(benzotriazol-1/2-yl)methyl]benzimidazoles, bearing either linear 
(dialkylamino)alkyl- or bulkier (quinolizidin-1-yl)alkyl moieties at position 1, 
were evaluated in cell-based assays for cytotoxicity and antiviral activity 
against viruses representative of two of the three genera of the Flaviviridae 
family, i.e. Flaviviruses (Yellow Fever Virus (YFV)) and Pestiviruses (Bovine 
Viral Diarrhoea Virus (BVDV)), as Hepaciviruses can hardly be used in routine 
cell-based assays. Compounds were also tested against representatives of other 
virus families. Among ssRNA+ viruses were a retrovirus (Human Immunodeficiency 
Virus type 1 (HIV-1)), two picornaviruses (Coxsackie Virus type B2 (CVB2), and 
Poliovirus type-1, Sabin strain (Sb-1)); among ssRNA- viruses were a 
Paramyxoviridae (Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)) and a Rhabdoviridae 
(Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV)) representative. Among double-stranded RNA 
(dsRNA) viruses was a Reoviridae representative (Reo-1). Two representatives of 
DNA virus families were also included: Herpes Simplex type 1, (HSV-1; 
Herpesviridae) and Vaccinia Virus (VV; Poxviridae). Most compounds exhibited 
potent activity against RSV, with EC(50) values as low as 20 nM. Moreover, some 
compounds, in particular when bearing a (quinolizidin-1-yl)alkyl residue, were 
also moderately active against BVDV, YFV, and CVB2.