Scutellaria indica is a species of flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae. It is native to tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, where it occurs across eastern and southeastern Asia and into Malesia.
The species is a perennial herb and has been studied for its phytochemical composition and pharmacological properties.
Scutellaria indica is a perennial herbaceous plant characterized by opposite leaves and bilabiate flowers typical of the genus Scutellaria.
The species is widely distributed across tropical and subtropical Asia. Its native range includes China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Java, Sumatra, Sulawesi, the Lesser Sunda Islands, Maluku, and New Guinea.
It typically occurs in warm, moist environments.
The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 in Species Plantarum.
Several infraspecific taxa are recognized:
Scutellaria indica contains a range of bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, phenolic compounds, and glycosides.
Chemical fingerprinting studies using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) have been used to establish characteristic chemical profiles for the species and to support quality control of plant material.
Extracts and isolated compounds from Scutellaria indica have demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity in experimental studies, particularly through inhibition of nitric oxide production in stimulated macrophage cells.
Several compounds isolated from the species, including scutellariosides and other phenolic glycosides, have been investigated for their possible interactions with inflammatory targets such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and interleukin-8 (IL-8).
A 2025 study on the Korean endemic taxon Scutellaria indica var. coccinea found that its seeds exhibit type 2 non-deep physiological dormancy and that germination is promoted by cold stratification or gibberellic acid treatment.