Muhammad N. Qattoum

Context: Micromeria fruticosa (L.) Druce is a perennial aromatic herb traditionally employed in folk medicine and culinary applications across the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern regions. Aims: To investigate the phytochemical composition and cytotoxic potential of aqueous and acetone extracts of M. fruticosa, with particular attention to their selective activity against cancer cell lines. Methods: Phytochemical profiling of the plant extracts was performed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The cytotoxic activity was assessed via the MTT assay against human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7), human colorectal carcinoma (HCT116), and normal human fibroblast (MRC-5) cell lines. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) and selectivity index (SI) were calculated for each extract. Results: The aqueous extract contained predominantly heterocyclic compounds and fatty acid derivatives, whereas flavonoids dominated the acetone extract. Both extracts exhibited selective cytotoxicity against cancer cells, with the aqueous extract demonstrating superior selectivity and minimal toxicity toward normal fibroblasts. Conclusions: These findings highlight the potential of M. fruticosa, particularly its aqueous extract, as a candidate for the development of selective anticancer agents.