Abstract
The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the antibacterial effect of Aloe vera and Croton lechleri resin in water for human consumption. The study method was quasi-experimental with pre-test and post-test. Aloe vera resin and Croton lechleri at concentrations of 25%, 50% and 75% volume were used as biological samples, each concentration corresponding to a treatment, i.e., T1 as control with calcium hypochlorite at 0.5 ppm, T2, T3 and T4. It was determined that there is water consumption with high levels of total coliforms (925 CFU/100mL), thermotolerant coliforms (845 CFU/100mL) and Escherichia coli (1110 CFU/100mL), whose values exceed the maximum permissible limits according to Peruvian Supreme Decree regulations. The research concludes that the treatment with a higher concentration of aloe resin is able to inhibit the concentration of microbial load to a greater extent. Thus, Treatment (T4) achieved a greater bactericidal effect of 100% on total Coliforms, thermotolerant Coliforms and Escherichia coli, followed by Sangre de grado (Croton lechleri) resin, decreasing by 99%. It is important to mention that plants and their derivatives are an efficient and effective alternative for the elimination of bacteria present in water samples, being an ecological proposal for the care of natural resources and human health.
