Abstract: Objective To explore the effect of scutellarein on the migration and proliferation of colorectal cancer HT-29 cells as well as the underlying mechanism. Methods The MTT assay was used to investigate the proliferation of HT-29 cells after treatment with different doses of scutellarein（5， 10， 20， 40， 80 μg／ml）. The effect of 80 μg／ml scutellarein on migration of HT29 cells was measured by Transwell assay. Protein expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription（STAT3）， nuclear factor（NF）-κB and p53 in HT-29 cells was assayed by Western blotting after treatment of 20， 40 μg／ml scutellarein. Cells without treatment were assigned as control group（0 μg/ml scutellarein）. Results Compared with the control group， scutellarein presented inhibitory effect on the proliferation ability of T29 cells in a dose-dependent manner with significant difference（P＜0.05）. There were decreased cell migration ability and protein levels of STAT3 and NF-κB but increased level of p53 in scutellarein group versus control group（P＜0.05）. Conclusion Scutellarein significantly inhibited the migration and proliferation of HT-29 cells with the possible mechanism of increasing expression of p53 and decreasing levels of STAT3 and NF-κB in HT-29 cells.