| Summary: | Plants from the genus <i>Styrax</i> have been extensively used in folk medicines to treat diseases such as skin diseases and peptic ulcers and as an antiseptic and analgesic. Most <i>Styrax</i> species, especially <i>Styrax tonkinensis</i>, which is used as an expectorant, antiseptic, and analgesic in Chinese traditional medicine, could screen resin after external injury. <i>Styrax</i> is also used in folk medicines in Korea to treat sore throat, bronchitis, cough, expectoration, paralysis, laryngitis, and inflammation. Different parts of various <i>Styrax</i> species can be widely employed for ethnopharmacological applications. Moreover, for ethnopharmacological use, these parts of <i>Styrax</i> species can be applied in combination with other folk medicines. <i>Styrax</i> species consist of versatile natural compounds, with some of them exhibiting particularly excellent pharmacological activities, such as cytotoxic, acetylcholinesterase inhibitory, antioxidant, and antifungal activities. Altogether, these exciting results indicate that a comprehensive review of plants belonging to this genus is essential for helping researchers to continuously conduct an in-depth investigation. In this review, the traditional uses, phytochemistry, corresponding pharmacological activities, and structure–activity relationships of different <i>Styrax</i> species are clarified and critically discussed. More insights into potential opportunities for future research are carefully assessed.
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