History Of Medicine Research Articles

Extraction, Purification, Structural Characteristics, Biological Activities, and Applications of Polysaccharides from Gastrodia elata: A Review

Gastrodia elata Blume is a well-known medicinal and edible plant in China, celebrated for its extensive history in traditional medicine and functional food applications. Among its key bioactive components, polysaccharides have drawn significant attention from researchers in the fields of health food and medicine due to their potential health benefits. Recent studies have revealed various biological activities associated with G. elata polysaccharides, including antioxidant, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-aging, immune regulation, and neuroprotective properties. However, a comprehensive overview of these polysaccharides remains elusive. Specifically, relationship between the structure and activity of G. elata polysaccharides, along with the mechanisms through which various types exert their biological effects, has yet to be fully elucidated. This knowledge gap may impede the further development and utilization of G. elata polysaccharides in medicine, health products, food, and cosmetics. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in extraction, separation, purification, biological activities, and applications of G. elata polysaccharides. Additionally, it delves into structure-activity relationships and pharmacological mechanisms of these polysaccharides, giving support for future research to enhance their application in medicine, food, health products, and cosmetics.

Kefir probiotic products on the count of Candida Albicans in saliva of chemotherapy patients: A randomized placebo-controlled single-blind study.

Oral candidiasis is the most common infection of oral mucosa caused by Candida albicans. A common predisposing factor for candidiasis is immune system suppression in specific diseases such as AIDS and various cancers. This study aimed to analyze the effect of Kefir probiotic products on the count of C. Albicans in the saliva of chemotherapy patients. In this single-blinded clinical trial, 50 patients were selected who have signed informed consent forms. Patients aged 20-60 years with colon or breast cancer who received the same chemotherapy regimen were included and those with a history of radiation therapy, underlying diseases, using antibiotics, anti-fungal and GCSF medicines were excluded. Matched patients in test and control groups received 100 ccs Kefir probiotic and mineral water, respectively at a specific daily time for five weeks. Blood and saliva samples were collected in five steps. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 21 and the significance level was set at p< 0.05. In saliva samples, the count of C. Albicans in the test group dropped significantly (p<0.05), while there were no significant differences between test and control groups in blood samples (p>0.05). Comparing the follow-up sessions, in the test groups, WBC and Neutrophil, and in the control groups, WBC count and hematocrit showed significant differences (p< 0.05). Based on the results, using probiotic products daily over a short-term period drops the count of oral C. Albicans. Therefore, Kefir probiotic products can be used as an additional treatment for chemotherapy patients.

Nafion coated nanopore electrode for improving electrochemical aptamer-based biosensing.

The transition to a personalized point-of-care model in medicine will fundamentally change the way medicine is practiced, leading to better patient care. Electrochemical biosensors based on structure-switching aptamers can contribute to this medical revolution due to the feasibility and convenience of selecting aptamers for specific targets. Recent studies have reported that nanostructured electrodes can enhance the signals of aptamer-based biosensors. However, miniaturized systems and body fluid environments pose challenges such as signal-to-noise ratio reduction and biofouling. To address these issues, researchers have proposed various electrode coating materials, including zwitterionic materials, biocompatible polymers and hybrid membranes. Nafion, a commonly used ion exchange membrane, is known for its excellent permselectivity and anti-biofouling properties, making it a suitable choice for biosensor systems. However, the performance and mechanism of Nafion-coated aptamer-based biosensor systems have not been thoroughly studied. In this work, we present a Nafion-coated gold nanoporous electrode, which excludes Nafion from the nanoporous structures and allows the aptamers immobilized inside the nanopores to freely detect chosen targets. The nanopore electrode is formed by a sputtering and dealloying process, resulting in a pore size in tens of nanometers. The biosensor is optimized by adjusting the electrochemical measurement parameters, aptamer density, Nafion thickness and nanopore size. Furthermore, we propose an explanation for the unusual signaling behavior of the aptamers confined within the nanoporous structures. This work provides a generalizable platform to investigate membrane-coated aptamer-based biosensors.

Medical sovereignty in Eritrea: Reducing maternal mortality and challenging global health humanitarianism in Africa.

This article examines how Eritrea's realization of Millennium Development Goal 5 (the reduction of maternal mortality) reveals the complex workings of medical sovereignty in sub-Saharan Africa. Through the case study of Eritrea, I demonstrate how postcolonial African countries might approach structuring their healthcare systems to navigate-and challenge-the neoliberal contours of global health humanitarianism. By analyzing both Eritrea's colonial history and the liberation-era history of medicine alongside contemporary healthcare policymaking, I trace how racial and gender dynamics shape the reduction of maternal mortality and the pursuit of medical sovereignty more broadly. To engage in this pursuit, African states must negotiate the tensions between autonomous healthcare development and the political constraints of global health humanitarianism.

PAGES OF THE HISTORY OF FORENSIC MEDICINE IN UKRAINE: PROFESSIONAL AND SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITY OF VOLODYMYR SERADSKYI AS THE FOUNDER AND HEAD OF THE INSTITUTION OF FORENSIC MEDICINE OF GALICIA

Seradsky Volodymyr Ivan (pol: SIERADZKI Wlodzimierz Jan, October 22, 1870, Wieliczka near Krakow, Poland - July 4, 1941, Lviv, Ukraine) - Polish physician, forensic doctor, professor and head of the Department of Forensic Medicine, Dean of Medical Faculty, Rector of Lviv University, co-author of a well-known in the international scientific community test for carboxyhemoglobin in the blood, President of the Lviv Medical Society, member of the German Society of Forensic Medicine, German Criminological Society, member of the International Academy of Forensic and Public Medicine, member of the Galician Society - Society of Physicians of Poland, honorary member of the Vilnius Society of Physicians, awarded the Cross of the Commander of the Order of the Polish Renaissance, the Cavalry Cross of the Order of the French Legion and the medal "10th anniversary of independence". According to the ministerial rescript of September 21, 1898, he became the head of the Department of Forensic Medicine at the Medical Department of Lviv University, at that time he had the title of associate professor. From the 1898-1899 academic year he began teaching forensic medicine, giving lectures on forensic psychopathology, from the 1899-1900 academic year he organized practical classes with students. He gave the first lecture for medical students on "Relations of forensic medicine with other medical sciences" on November 11, 1898, the first section of the corpse was held on June 26, 1899 (lectures were given for five hours a year, and practical classes were held two hours a week for fourth- and fifth-year students according to the Ministry of Education (1899). From the academic year 1900-1901 he began teaching forensic medicine for law students in the third year of study at Lviv University. Beginning in 1905, for more than three decades he headed the Department of Forensic Medicine of Lviv Medical University, and in 1939-41 - the Department of Forensic Medicine of Lviv Medical Institute. In 1899, V. Seradsky became an "extraordinary" professor of forensic medicine at the Faculty of Law and medical propaedeutics at the medical school, and five years later he received the title of "ordinary" professor. The main areas of research were psychopathology and its use in forensic medicine, the study of mechanisms of death by suffocation, postmortem changes in the form of fat wax, the study of blood subgroups, the study of hemolysins, cytotoxins, precipitins, forensic examination of infant death, criminal anthropology, history and development of medicine. He held universal positions: dean (1908-09, 1919-20), deputy dean (1909-10, 1921-22) of the Medical University, delegate of the Academic Senate (1913-14, 1914-15), part-time - head of the Department of Pathological Anatomy , General and Experimental Pathology (1915), Rector (1924-25), Vice-Rector (1926-27) of Lviv University Jan Kazimir.

Structural and functional characterization of genes and enzymes involved in withanolide biosynthesis in Physalis alkekengi L.

Physalis alkekengi L. is recognized as a significant source of various secondary metabolites, particularly C28 steroidal lactones known as withanolides and physalins, renowned for their therapeutic properties with a rich history in traditional medicine. In this study, we characterized the sequences of key downstream genes (PaFPPS, PaSQS, PaSQE, PaCAS, PaHYD1, and PaDWF5-1) involved in the biosynthesis of withanolides, marking the first characterization of these genes in P. alkekengi. Our findings revealed highly conserved amino acid sequences in P. alkekengi, with maximum similarity observed with Withania somnifera. Notably, essential domains crucial for enzyme function were preserved in P. alkekengi, indicating conserved enzyme activity. Comparative analysis of secondary structures, 3D topologies, and evolutionary studies supported ancestral homology. Investigations into the differential gene expression of these genes across seven tissues (young leaves, stems, roots, flowers, mature green fruit, breaker fruit, and red ripe fruit) highlighted higher expression levels in P. alkekengi leaves. These gene expression patterns were corroborated by phytochemical analyses using chromatographic techniques. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) confirmed the production of two key withanolides, withanolide A and withanone, in P. alkekengi, with maximum production observed in leaves and flowers. These findings suggest that P. alkekengi holds promise as an alternative to W. somnifera for large-scale industrial production of withanolides, particularly withanolide A. Using P. alkekengi eliminates the need to sacrifice the plant, which is typically required in traditional extraction methods from the roots of W. somnifera.

The XXXI Conference of the Baltic Association of the History and Philosophy of Science

The XXXI Conference of the Baltic Association of the History and Philosophy of Science (BAHPS) was held on 13–16 June 2024 on the premises of the University of Tartu, Estonia. The conference titled ‘Scientific Instruments in History and Philosophy of Science, Technology and Medicine’ celebrated the bicentennial anniversary of the completion and acquisition of the large astronomical instrument. The telescope, called the Great Dorpat Refractor, was made by Joseph Fraunhofer and until now remains housed in the same place—the Old Observatory of the Tartu University.

Vavro Šrobár: Slovak politician and publicist as a medical doctor involved (also) in the history of medicine.

Vavro Šrobár was a prominent political figure in East-Central Europe. He played a pivotal role in the establishment and development of the First Czechoslovak Republic, which emerged following the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He was the first Minister to exercise full administrative authority in overseeing the Provisional Government of Slovakia, and throughout his career, including until the end of his life, he held several significant political positions, such as Minister of Public Health and Physical Education, Minister of Unification, Minister of Education and National Enlightenment, and Minister of Finance. Among his numerous contributions, Šrobár was unquestionably one of the key figures behind the founding of the University in Bratislava. His name subsequently became closely associated with the first decades of the Bratislava Faculty of Medicine at Comenius University, founded in 1919. In the field of medicine, he is regarded as one of the founding figures of social medicine in Slovakia. This article will primarily examine Šrobár's medical accomplishments within the context of healthcare in present-day Slovakia during the first quarter of the 20th century and his work at the Faculty of Medicine in Bratislava. Additionally, we will explore the connection between his person and the early history of medicine in Slovakia.

A Study on the Development of Modern Chinese Medical Education

The development of modern Chinese medical education represents a profound transformation in the history of Chinese medicine, undergoing a process of transition from tradition to modernity and from a closed system to an open one. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the development of modern Chinese medical education, analyzing its characteristics, influencing factors, and implications for contemporary medical education. It offers historical insights for current reforms and the development of medical education. Through in-depth analysis of the introduction and initial development of Western medical education in the late Qing period, the coexistence and integration of Chinese and Western medical education in the Republic of China, and the profound impact of political, economic, and cultural factors on medical education, this paper explores how these changes shaped the evolution of Chinese medical education. Finally, it concludes by summarizing the insights of modern Chinese medical education for contemporary medical education and proposes suggestions for enhancing international cooperation and exchanges, focusing on practical and innovative education, and promoting diversified development.

Queer Transgressive Cultural Capital in &lt;em&gt;When the Moon Was Ours&lt;/em&gt;

In this article, we examine Anna-Marie McLemore’s When the Moon Was Ours (2016) through the theory of Queer Transgressive Cultural Capital. In doing so, we argue that queer and trans characters subvert existing Westernized systems of care, which are frequently reified in existing queer and trans young adult literature. We first explore how McLemore’s text uses magical realism to disrupt common trans narratives in Western contexts, in addition to exposing the norms that continue to haunt contemporary queer texts. Next, we draw from the history of trans medicine in Western contexts to examine how multiple characters in McLemore’s novel use their cultural knowledge and practices to examine their identities, think about their gender and sexuality outside of Western models of care and medicine, and challenge the normative ideals that threaten queer and trans lives, both real and fictional. Lastly, we consider When the Moon Was Ours’ potential to challenge the norms of whiteness, medicine, and the body present in the larger corpus of YA literature. We end with a consideration of the implications of teaching When the Moon Was Ours and including trans narratives in the classroom.

‘Risala Tahaffuz Min al-Nazla’, Al-Rāzi’s Legacy in Cold Remedy and Prevention

Nazla (Catarrh) is a condition in Unani medicine that involves the flow of catarrhal fluids, or mucus, from the brain downwards into the throat and chest, leading to symptoms similar to what we consider a cold today. This condition is characterized by congestion, irritation in the respiratory pathways, and in some cases, can progress to more serious respiratory complications if left untreated. While preparing a detailed catalogue of Unani medical manuscripts housed at the Telangana Government Oriental Manuscripts Library and Research Institute (TGOMLRI) in Hyderabad, a significant discovery was made: a concise yet vital manuscript titled Risala Tahaffuz min al-Nazla (A Treatise on the Prevention of Cold and Catarrh), cataloged under Accession No. 8880. This manuscript, written by the eminent physician Muhammad ibn Zakariyyā al-Rāzi (865–925 AD), offers invaluable insight into the traditional understanding and prevention of the common cold. Al-Rāzi, also known as Rhazes in the Latin world, was one of the most influential figures in the history of medicine, contributing profoundly to clinical practices and medical theories that remained relevant for centuries. This treatise, written in Arabic, reflects al-Rāzi&amp;apos;s keen focus on preventive medicine, specifically on measures to avoid the onset of cold and catarrhal conditions. It is a paper manuscript, notable for its brevity, consisting of only 8 pages. Each page contains 14 lines, with an average of 16 letters per line, displaying a compact and highly structured layout that suggests its use as a practical guide. Its focus on prevention rather than solely treatment is particularly notable, as it aligns with al-Rāzi’s broader medical philosophy emphasizing lifestyle and precautionary health measures. Moreover, Risala Tahaffuz min al-Nazla outlines remedies based on herbal medicine, prescribing specific herbs and natural compounds known to alleviate symptoms of cold and prevent its occurrence. These herbal prescriptions include ingredients that are easily available in Unani medicine and have historically been used for their anti-inflammatory, expectorant, and warming properties, which can relieve respiratory congestion and discomfort. Interestingly, another copy of this treatise exists in Iran, underscoring the historical and scholarly connections between Indian and Persian centers of Unani medicine. This manuscript’s discovery in Hyderabad adds to the rich collection of Unani medical texts in India, showcasing the traditional medical knowledge that continues to be studied for its relevance to modern alternative medicine practices. Through such manuscripts, Unani medicine remains an enduring part of the cultural and scientific heritage in regions with strong historical ties to Persian medical traditions. The concise nature of Risala Tahaffuz min al-Nazla and its practical content makes it a valuable text for both historical research and contemporary applications, providing insights into how ancient Unani physicians approached the common cold with holistic, plant-based remedies.

Structure Elucidation and Immunostimulatory Activity Evaluation of a Galactoglucan from Alpinia officinarum Hance.

Alpinia officinarum Hance has a medicinal history of thousands of years in treating cough, diabetes, and gastrointestinal system diseases, and it is also a medicine food homology (MFH) plant in China. To evaluate the pharmacological activities of polysaccharides from the rhizomes of A. officinarum, polysaccharides were initially obtained by hot-water extraction and the ethanol precipitation method. A homogenous polysaccharide designated as AOP-w was isolated by a DE-52 column. The proposed structure was elucidated and the immunoregulatory effects on RAW 264.7 macrophage cells were evaluated. The results showed that AOP-w had a molecular weight of 5.26 kDa, and mainly consisted of galactose and glucose (molar ratio of 0.12:0.88). Its backbone comprised α-(1→4)-Glcp, α-(1→4,6)-Glcp and β-(1→3,4)-Galp residues, terminated by α-(1→6)-Glcp and T-Glcp residues. AOP-w was nontoxic to RAW 264.7 cells, but demonstrated promotion in cell proliferation within a 100 μg/mL concentration. The immunostimulatory effects of AOP-w were confirmed by the elevated NO production of AOP-w-treated cells. Moreover, the RNAseq was conducted and the results showed that AOP-w may activate the TNF and NF-κB signaling pathways by binding to Toll-like receptors, thereby affecting the immune modulatory activity of RAW264.7 cells. These results suggest a high potential of AOP-w from A. officinarum for immunotherapeutic applications.

Recent Advances in Bacopa Monnieri Research: Neuroprotective Effects and Cognitive Decline Mitigation in Neurodegenerative Diseases with a Focus on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases

Background: The global rise in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, has increased interest in natural nootropics such as Bacopa Monnieri. Known for its neuroprotective properties, Bacopa Monnieri has a long history in traditional medicine. This review examines its role in cognitive enhancement, focusing on its effects in neurodegenerative diseases. Methods: Relevant studies published after 2020 were analyzed to assess Bacopa Monnieri’s impact on memory, concentration, and neuroprotection, particularly in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. The review explores mechanisms such as neurotransmitter modulation, reduced neuroinflammation, and enhanced synaptic plasticity. Results: Bacopa Monnieri exhibits neuroprotective effects beneficial for cognitive health and neurodegenerative diseases. It has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, promotes neurogenesis, and increases Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF). In Alzheimer’s models, it improved cognitive function, reduced amyloid plaques, and prevented Tau aggregation. In Parkinson’s, it enhanced dopaminergic function and reduced neuroinflammation. Despite promising findings, more robust clinical trials are required to confirm its efficacy. Conclusion: Bacopa Monnieri demonstrates potential in neuroprotection and cognitive enhancement, particularly in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. It improves synaptic health and reduces oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. However, larger, high-quality trials are needed to fully establish its therapeutic role in neurodegenerative diseases.

Crisis upon Crisis: Ruderal Landscapes, Traces and the History of Medicine

Abstract What happens to the history of medicine and health when the world surrounding us experiences crisis upon crisis? What kind of stories, methods and archives should we turn to? This article attempts to intensify the conversation between the history of medicine, the environmental humanities and the biosciences. I explore what we can gain, as historians of medicine, by engaging with landscapes – understood ecologically, historically and aesthetically. Such perspectives enable us to bring our histories of medicine and health “down to earth,” in the words of Bruno Latour. Noticing, unearthing and following the traces that form the landscape can also help us imagine unimagined histories, that are open-ended, and shaped in unexpected ways by non-human agencies and interpretations. Drawing from my research in East Cameroon, I examine how the genetic sequences of pathogens (hiv and the hepatitis C virus), as well as botanical, archeological and architectural traces, can help us locate histories of medicine within a broader consideration of ruderality – the shared condition of living among the rubble. Using molecular phylogeny and ethnography as arts of tracing, I explore how we can write a history of hiv-Aids and of other mid–twentieth century disease emergences and bioinvasions by starting with the ruderal landscapes of Central Africa, shaped by crisis upon crisis and by medicine itself.

A brief history of occupational medicine

Occupational medicine has been concerned with work-related pathologies and their prevention since ancient times. It has evolved with scientific discoveries, societal changes, the establishment of health and safety authorities, better observation of working conditions and multidisciplinary organization.

К 160-летию со дня рождения Виктора Александровича Левашёва – профессора Военно-медицинской академии, основателя дезинфекционного дела и санитарии

The report was made at the Scientific and Practical Conference «Practical and methodological aspects of disinfection activities» held October 16–17, 2024 in Moscow. In 2024, the 160th anniversary of the birth of Viktor Alexandrovich Levashev, the largest specialist in the field of disinfection at that time, who developed and implemented a system for organizing disinfection services in Russian cities, who created a domestic school for training disinfection specialists. There are no publications devoted to his life in the modern scientific literature. This article is based on the results of work with archival funds and literary sources. Levashev headed the Department of General and Military Hygiene of the Imperial Medical and Surgical Academy, now the Military Medical Academy named after S.M. Kirov. He actively combined scientific and pedagogical, practical and social medical activities. Along with the traditional directions for the department, a significant place in its activities was devoted to the study and justification of the use of various means and methods of disinfection, which was facilitated, on the one hand, by the successes of microbiology and bacteriology, and on the other hand, by the constant and incessant outbreaks of epidemics in Russia. After the death of S.E. Krupina was in charge of the city disinfection chamber at the city Barrack Infectious Diseases Hospital in memory of S.P. Botkin. Seconded doctors, students of the Imperial Medical and Surgical Academy, Red Cross courses and other specialists practiced at this institution. Levashev was an active public figure, was a member of many commissions, and worthily represented Russian science abroad – at the II International Congress on Hygiene and Home Improvement in Geneva (1906), the XIV International Congress on Hygiene and Demography in Berlin (1907) and the International Hygienic Exhibition in Dresden (1911). The medical community of that time highly appreciated the work of V.A.?Levashev. Keywords: history of preventive medicine; disinfection business; history of hygiene; Military Medical Academy; the first Department of Hygiene in Russia; the first urban disinfection station; Dobroslavin A.P.; Krupin S.E.; Levashev V.A.

This Month in Aerospace Medicine History: December

This Month in Aerospace Medicine History: December

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory potential of Verbesina encelioides in rodents

Background: Verbesina encelioides, a plant with a rich history in traditional medicine, is the focus of our novel research. Commonly known as golden crownbeard or cowpen daisy, this plant has been used in various cultures for its medicinal properties. However, despite its widespread use, scientific validation of its therapeutic potential, particularly its analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, remains limited. Objectives: Our study is designed to comprehensively evaluate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of methanol extracts from various parts (leaves, stems, flowers, and roots) of Verbesina encelioides. We aim to achieve this by using established animal models. Our objectives include assessing pain-relieving properties through the Hot Plate and Tail Flick tests, investigating anti-inflammatory effects via the carrageenan-induced paw edema model, and determining safe dosage ranges through acute toxicity assays. Furthermore, our goals are to validate traditional medicinal uses, assess the effectiveness of various plant sections, and find probable bioactive chemicals that could be responsible for the observed pharmacological actions. This will provide Verbesina encelioides's medicinal use with a strong scientific foundation. Techniques: The study was carried out with great care and attention to detail. Methanol was used to collect, identify, and extract Verbesina encelioides. Acute toxicity, analgesic effects (heat plate and tail flick tests), and anti-inflammatory activity (carrageenan-induced inflammation) were tested in Swiss albino mice and Wistar albino rats. Findings: The acute toxicity assay showed no adverse effects in mice up to 1000 mg/kg, a highly encouraging result. In analgesic studies, Verbesina encelioides extracts showed dose-dependent increases in reaction times similar to aspirin. Different extracts had different effects on paw edema in anti-inflammatory testing; some at first increased inflammation but eventually showed significant decreases, especially at higher dosages. These results offer a positive perspective on Verbesina encelioides' possible medicinal use. Conclusion: These results provide a positive perspective on Verbesina encelioides' possible therapeutic use. The results imply that extracts from Verbesina encelioides, which are abundant in bioactive substances such as flavonoids, phenolics, and alkaloids, may have applications in treating pain and inflammation. Prospects for the future: These results highlight the plant's medicinal potential and suggest that more research and development could help address pain and inflammation naturally.

Charting the history of premature birth in France from the 17th century to modern state-of-the art care.

To describe the concept of preterm birth in the history of medicine in France, from the 17th century up until the end of the 20th century, on the basis of old medical textbooks. Historical manuscripts and books held in medical libraries and from our personal collection were examined. Digital copies of medical textbooks online were also studied. Premature deliveries were often referred to as spontaneous abortions or miscarriages, irrespective of the infant's condition at birth. The difference between growth restriction and prematurity was not known. At the end of the 18th century, care for newborn infants entered the age of modern medicine, with observations of the newborn infant and its illnesses and experiments concerning nutrition and thermoregulation treatments. The responsibility for newborn infants, long allocated to midwives and obstetricians, was passed to neonatologists and paediatricians in the 1960s, thanks to developments in our knowledge of neonatal physiology in general and respiration, nutrition and thermoregulation in particular. This article delays the history of medicine concerned the care of preterm infants by obstetricians and then neonatologists, from the 17th century to modern period.

The Aloe vera acemannan polysaccharides inhibit phthalate-induced cell viability, metastasis, and stemness in colorectal cancer cells

Plasticizers are recognized as environmental pollutants that may be associated with a range of health concerns, including impacts on growth, development, and oncogenic risks. Previous research demonstrated that prolonged exposure to di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and its metabolite mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate contributes to chemotherapeutic drug resistance and stemness in colorectal cancer cells. Aloe vera, an herbaceous plant with a long-standing history in traditional medicine, has attracted considerable attention for its diverse pharmacological properties. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of polysaccharides extracted from Aloe vera, specifically focusing on their anticancer properties. We eluted polysaccharides from Aloe vera using water and ethanol, resulting in the fractions designated A50 and I50, respectively. We characterized their effects on cell viability, migration, invasion, stemness, and glycosylation of colorectal cancer cells exposed to phthalates. Comprehensive glycan analysis revealed that phthalate exposure induced alterations in glycosylation patterns in colorectal cancer cells. Treatment with A50 and I50 reversed these changes to varying degrees, indicating distinct regulatory roles of the two polysaccharide fractions in colorectal cancer cells subjected to phthalate exposure. A50 exhibited a dose-dependent reduction in cell viability induced by phthalates, whereas I50 demonstrated no such effect. Notably, I50 displayed a notable inhibitory effect on migration, invasion, and stemness induced by phthalates when compared with A50. The differing polysaccharide structures of A50 and I50 may account for their divergent effects on the malignancy of colorectal cancer cells. These findings underscore the potential of Aloe vera polysaccharides in anticancer therapy and highlight the necessity for further investigation into their clinical applications.