India is a biodiversity hotspot offering a varied range of spices and condiments each of which has a varied flavor and taste. Apart from flavor and taste, these spices and condiments are known to possess several curative properties and have been used in Ayurveda since time immemorial. Cinnamomum tamala (CT), commonly known as ‘Indian bay leaf’ is a tree belonging to family Lauraceae. Aim of the study: To evaluate the anticancer activity of ethanolic extract of Cinnamomum tamala leaves (EECTL) against human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells, and to investigate its underlying mechanisms, particularly focusing on cell cycle arrest, apoptosis induction, and modulation of tumor-suppressor pathways. Materials and methods: Phytochemical characterization of EECTL was performed using HPLC. The antioxidant activity and antibacterial potential of EECTL were assessed using the DPPH radical scavenging assay and disc diffusion method respectively. The anticancer potential of EECTL was evaluated against human breast cancer cells and compared with normal cells. Results: The major bioactive components were found to be catechin, eugenol and apigenin. EECTL was found to induce apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. Interestingly, EECTL did not exhibit any significant effect on normal Vero and HEK-293 cells. EECTL-induced chromatin condensation and apoptosis was studied using Hoechst, AO/EtBr and Annexin-PI staining while cell cycle analysis was studied using flow cytometry. The anticancer activity of EECTL was found to be mediated majorly through cell cycle arrest and subsequently chromatin condensation followed by induction of apoptosis in both breast cancer cell lines. EECTL caused cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 in MDA-MB-231 cells and at sub-G0 stage in MCF-7 cells. Both EECTL-treated breast cancer cell lines also displayed DNA damage and fragmentation using comet assay. Treated cell lines also displayed a modulation in expression of BRCA1 and TP53 (MDA-MB-231) and TP53 (MCF-7) of tumor-suppressor pathway. EECTL was also found to significant antioxidant potential against DPPH and exhibited moderate antibacterial activity.