Preliminary Biological Activity Screening of spp. Extracts for the Search of Anticancer Lead Molecules.

species (Lamiaceae) have been employed in traditional medicine and this is now validated by the presence of bioactive abietane-type diterpenoids. Herein, sixteen acetonic extracts were prepared by ultrasound-assisted extraction and their biological activity was screened. The antimicrobial activity of each extract was screened against yeasts, and Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The and extracts possessed significant activity against and (microdilution method). Moreover, all extracts showed antioxidant activity using the DPPH method, with and extracts having the highest scavenging activities. Selected by the model, and possessed low micromolar anti-proliferative activities in human colon, breast, and lung cancer cell lines. Furthermore, the most bioactive extract of leaves and the known abietane diterpene, 7α-acetoxy-6β-hydroxyroyleanone isolated from this plant, were tested against the aggressive type triple negative breast cancer (MDA-MB-231S). extract reduced the viability of MDA-MB-231S cancer cell line cells, showing an IC value of 25.6 µg/mL. The IC value of 7α-acetoxy-6β-hydroxyroyleanone was 5.5 µM (2.15 µg/mL), suggesting that this lead molecule is a potential starting tool for the development of anti-cancer drugs.