The Unholy Consortium between COVID-19 and Mucormycosis and Identification of Some Potential Antifungal Herbs: A Review

Background: There has been a rise alarming in the number of Mucormycosis post COVID-19 infection. The enigmatic relationship between SARS CoV-2 and Mucormycosis is very complex. So far as the treatment is concerned, mankind is yet to discover a potent therapeutic drug that could effectively be used to treat this deadly fungal infection. For ages, mankind has always looked toward nature, and perhaps herbals are the best options in our quest to search for effective antifungal drugs against the ruthless and invasive Mucorales.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across the PubMed database, LILACS, the Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials, Google Scholar and others using key words COVID-19, SARS CoV-2, Mucormycosis, Rhizopus, vaccine, steroids, antifungal drugs and herbals. Full texts of the retrieved articles published in English were accessed.

Results: A handful of medicinal plants such as Satureja khuzestanica Jamzad, Thymus danensis and Thymus carmanicus, Thymus vulgaris L, Lavandula angustifolia, Mentha piperita and some species of pepper such as Piper sp., Piper tuberculatum and P. hispidum have all shown to have a promising antifungal effect on Mucorales fungus.

Conclusions: Limited knowledge and resources on antifungal (anti-Mucorales) due to lack of adequate research and clinical studies limits our search to identify potent antifungal herbs. An intensified research and evaluation for antifungal herbs can boost the identification, design and development of newer drugs with lesser adverse drug reactions and better mortality rate.