Iridoids compounds are one of the main active components of Gardenia jasminoides, which were divided into two categories: iridoid glycosides and non-glucosylated iridoids according to their chemical structures. Relevant studies have shown that components such as geniposide, deacetyl asperulosidic acid methyl ester, and geniposidic acid play an important role in anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemia, and the protection of cardiomyocytes. While the pharmacological effects of most iridoid glycosides are still not clear. This paper’s systematic summary was created by searching for relevant iridoids material on websites such as Google Scholar, PubMed, SciFinder Scholar, Science Direct, and others. Up to now, a total of 94 iridoids had been identified in G. jasminoides, among which 40 iridoids had extensive biological activities and the mechanisms involved in MAPK, NF-κB, JNK signal pathways. This paper reviews the literature on types and pharmacological effects of iridoid compounds in G. jasminoides, in order to provide a reference for its development and application.