玄参科（Scrophulariaceae）原来是一个大科，包括275属约5,000种，但最新对基因分析研究进展，将许多属划出，有的独立成科，如泡桐科、蒲包花科等，有的划入其他科，如婆婆纳属划入车前科。中国有54属约600种，分布在全国各地，在西南各省品种较多。

本科植物分布在世界的地的温带地区和热带的山区，大部分是草本，稀有木本，单叶对生，无托叶；花两性，两侧对称，花冠合瓣，常为两唇形，雄蕊生长在花冠筒上；果实为蒴果。

本科植物许多品种可以作为药用，含有甙类和生物碱，如毛地黄、玄参等，也有观赏花卉。

The Scrophulariaceae, the figwort family, are a family of flowering plants. The plants are annual and perennial herbs, as well as one genus of shrubs. Flowers have bilateral (zygomorphic) or rarely radial (actinomorphic) symmetry. Members of the Scrophulariaceae have a cosmopolitan distribution, with the majority found in temperate areas, including tropical mountains. The family name is based on the name of the included genus Scrophularia L..