Phytochemical Profile, Antioxidant Capacity and Anticancer Potential of Water Extracts from In Vitro Cultivated Salvia aethiopis

<i>Salvia aethiopis</i> L. (Mediterranean sage) is a medicinal plant known for its rich phenolic content and different therapeutic properties. This study evaluated the phytochemical composition, antioxidant capacity and anticancer potential of water extracts from in vitro cultivated <i>S. aethiopis</i>. The extract exhibited a high total polyphenol (110.03 ± 0.7 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (7.88 ± 0.25 mg QE/g) content, along with a strong oxygen radical absorbance capacity (an ORAC value of 3677.9 ± 24.8 µmol TE/g). LC-HRMS analysis identified 21 bioactive compounds, including salvianic acid C, rosmarinic acid, salvianolic acid K and various organic acids. A cytotoxicity evaluation using the Neutral Red Uptake assay showed that the extract had a low toxicity to non-cancerous BALB/3T3 cells. An antiproliferative activity assessment via the MTT assay revealed selective cytotoxicity against Hep G2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells (IC₅₀ = 353.8 ± 21.8 µg/mL) and lung (A549) and prostate (PC-3) carcinoma cell lines. Migration assays and cytopathological evaluations confirmed the significant inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, the suppression of migration and G2/M cell cycle arrest. Flow cytometry revealed considerable increases in apoptotic and necrotic cell populations following treatment with <i>S. aethiopis</i> extract. These findings showed the potential of <i>S. aethiopis</i> as a promising source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant and anticancer properties, supporting its further exploration for therapeutic applications.