Abstract: Compositions and methods for treating or preventing infectious diseases, and inhibiting the ability of microbes to travel within mammalian cells, and inhibiting microbial replication, are disclosed. The compositions include various noscapine analogs, which are capable of blocking the movement of viruses and other microbes within mammalian and other cells by inhibiting the cytoplasmic transport mechanisms within the cells. The compositions described herein include an effective amount of the noscapine analogues described herein, along with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient. The compositions can also include one or more additional antimicrobial compounds.