A wide range of chemical components including coumarins, secoiridoids, phenylethanoids, flavonoids, and lignans has been isolated from Fraxinus species. Extracts and metabolites have been found to possess antiinflammatory, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, antioxidative, skin regenerating, photodynamic damage prevention, liverprotecting, diuretic and antiallergic activities. Some species find application in contemporary medicine. In the present review the literature data on the phytochemical and biological investigations on the genus Fraxinus are summarized up to the middle of 2004.