SOAP AND DISINFECTANT SYNTHESIS WITH Peumus boldus (Molina) EXTRACT AND DETERMINATION OF ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY

Abstract

Investigation was conducted in medicinal plants and trees existent inside the O’Higgins region that presented antimicrobial activity. According to the literature review, the “boldo” or Peumus boldus (Molina), presented the properties sought. The experimental development consisted in the obtaining of an aqueous extract of the boldo’s leaves by means of steam distillation. Then, the saponification of the olive oil was performed in order to generate soap. At the final stage, the hydrosol obtained was added. The analysis of the bactericide and fungicide effect was made by the preparation of sample culture media obtained from hands, which, after the growth of the microorganisms’ colonies, were exposed to dissolutions of the synthesized soap. The results obtained show that the synthesized soap has antimicrobial activity, as the soap dissolutions eliminated partially fungus and bacterium from the culture media (over an 67%). With all this evidence, it is proposed the use of this product as a more environmental and biodiversity friendly alternative, as it does not have harmful chlorinated derivatives; proving that the use of less chemical additives in a soap with antimicrobial activity is possible, projecting its application into a industrial scale.