<p>The genus <i>Salvia,</i> Lamiaceae, is represented by 107 taxa in Turkish flora, with 58 being endemic, and is popularly used for medicinal purposes. In this study, the effects of <i>S. tomentosa</i> Mill. extracts with different polarities on the proliferation rate, apoptotic death levels and migration rates of MCF-7, UPCI-SCC-131, Huh-7 cancer cells, as well as healthy A7r5 cells, were investigated for the first time. The highest inhibition of cell viability was detected with the dichloromethane extract using the WST-1 method (IC₅₀ 15.51, 15.47, 10.93 and 52.82&#xa0;μg/ml for MCF-7, UPCI-SCC-131, Huh-7 and A7r5 cell lines, respectively). An abietane-type diterpene derivative, methyl carnosate-12-methylether, was isolated from the extract and IC₅₀ values were detected as 12.77, 21.21, 10.27 and 12.16&#xa0;μM against the same cell lines, respectively. The dichloromethane extract and methyl carnosate-12-methylether were further evaluated using DAPI staining assay and cell scratch assay. Apoptotic death was investigated morphologically, and it was observed that pyknotic death occurred in cells treated with the extract (50&#xa0;μg/ml) and methyl carnosate-12-methylether (5&#xa0;μg/ml). In addition, it was determined that the extract selectively inhibited the migration ability of cancer cell lines. The objective of this study was to determine whether <i>S. tomentosa</i> and methyl carnosate-12-methylether selectively exert cytotoxic and anti-migratory effects on cancer cells compared to non-cancerous cells, providing a potential candidate for future anticancer drug development.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>