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

Salvia aethiopis 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 S. aethiopis. 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 S. aethiopis extract. These findings showed the potential of S. aethiopis as a promising source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant and anticancer properties, supporting its further exploration for therapeutic applications.