Outbreak of Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) Delta variant (B.1.617.2) and Delta Plus (AY. 1) with fungal infections, Mucormycosis: Herbal medicine treatment

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VIII, Issue VI, June 2021 | ISSN 2321–2705

Outbreak of Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) Delta variant (B.1.617.2) and Delta Plus (AY. 1) with fungal infections, Mucormycosis: Herbal medicine treatment

Ravindra B. Malabadi^*1, Kiran P. Kolkar², Neelambika T. Meti³, Raju K. Chalannavar^1
1* Department of Applied Botany, Mangalore University, Mangalagangotri-574199, Mangalore, Karnataka State, India
^*1Miller Blvd, NW, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
²Department of Botany, Karnatak Science College, Dharwad, Karnataka state, India
³Plant Biotechnology Laboratory, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of IT and Biotechnology, Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Pune-Satara Road, Katraj, Pune – 411046, Maharashtra State, India
*Corresponding author

Abstract: This review of literature updates the current outbreak of second wave of coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) mutant Delta variant (B. 1. 617.2) strain and Delta Plus (AY.1) in India followed by the severe black fungus infections, mucormycosis. The mucormycosis, the black fungus infections have been emerged as an additional threat among those recovering from the viral disease, covid-19. Both coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) mutant strain, B.1.617.2 (Delta variant) and Delta Plus (AY.1) with black fungus has increased covid-19 hospitalizations and killing people in India. The widely accepted treatment of choice for mucormycosis is Amphotericin B. However, these medicines are already exhausted due to the shortage of supply, found very expensive, and fungal strains are resistant during covid-19 outbreak in India. Therefore, traditional herbal medicines with antifungal properties were used as per Auyverdic guidelines as an alternative therapy for controlling this deadly black fungus, mucormycosis during the outbreak of covid-19. Herbal medicines with antifungal activities are easily available in rural areas, less expensive, and traditional healers are practicing herbal therapy as an age old practice for controlling mucormycosis. Herbal formulations are very common household remedies in the rural parts of India.

Key words: Black fungus, covid-19, Delta variant, fungal infections, herbal therapy, India, mucormycosis

I. INTRODUCTION

The outbreak of pneumonia associated novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) disease (Covid-19) has spread quickly throughout the world (Shereen et al., 2020; Malabadi et al., 2021a). As the COVID-19 pandemic enters its second year, new fast-spreading mutant variants, B. 1. 617.2 (Delta strain) and Delta Plus (AY. 1) have caused a surge in infections in many countries, and renewed lockdowns. Many people are of the opinion that Covid-19 is not going to go back to baseline anytime soon and fear is that the deterioration in mental health could linger long after the pandemic has subsided (Fancourt et al., 2021; Pierce et al., 2020). WHO has declared Covid-19 as pandemic which is a major threat to human health (Wu et al., 2020a, 2020b; Shi et al., 2020; V’kovski et al., 2020; Hoffmann et al., 2020; Lima et al., 2020; Yang, 2021; Shin et al., 2020). The Delta variant of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is becoming the globally dominant version of the disease. Similar pandemics have occurred around the globe in recent past. The precautions to contain Covid-19 infection remain in place, and even so, the number of cases and deaths increased every day in India. Therefore, the Covid-19 pandemic poses challenges to healthcare teams around the world.

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