Perylene as a controversial antiviral scaffold

Pentacyclic aromatic hydrocarbon perylene is an easily derivatizable compound. Antiviral properties of perylene derivatives and congeners (naturally occurring perylenquinones and phenanthroperylenquinones) are reviewed. Perylene derivatives show broad-spectrum activity against a diverse set of enveloped viruses both in vitro and in vivo. The compounds are likely targeting the viral lipid envelope, thus inhibiting fusion of the virion and the host cell. Two major mechanisms of antiviral action, biophysical and photochemical, are proposed for perylene derivatives. Were these antivirals developed and approved, they would be excellent candidates for rapid repurposing towards prevention and treatment of emerging viral infections.