A new mononuclear Mn(III) derivative, [Mn(L)(H2O)2]ClO4 (1) was obtained by reacting manganese perchlorate with the tetradentate Schiff base precursor, H2L, [where H2L=C6H3(OMe)(OH)CH=N(CH2)3N=CH(OH)(OMe)C6H3] and characterized by various spectral techniques. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that in 1, the central Mn atom is hexa-coordinated via the NNOO donor sites of the Schiff base precursor and two water molecules, yielding a distorted octahedral geometry. Also, the EPR spectra of 1 were recorded at the solid state by varying the temperature (from 90 to 300 K) as well as in different organic solvents; DMSO, MeOH and a mixture CH2Cl2/toluene; the results obtained agree with the geometrical environment around the metal. The cytotoxic activity of the Mn(III) derivative was evaluated against normal and cancer cell lines. The derivative exhibited comparatively better cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 cells compared to SiHa and fibroblast cells.