茶茱萸科共包括24-25属约150余种，主要分布在世界的热带地区，以南半球最多，也有部分种类分布在中国南方和日本。中国有10属约20种，分布在西南和南岭以南地区。

本科植物为乔木、灌木或藤本，单叶，全缘，革质，无托叶；花小，组成花序；枝干上生有卷须；果实长而扁。

1981年的克朗奎斯特分类法将本科列入卫矛目，包括52属约400种，1998年根据基因亲缘关系分类的APG 分类法分出一些属放在心翼果科中，而将其余的茶茱萸科没有放入任何一目，直接列在II类真菊分支下，2003年经过修订的APG II 分类法又从这个科中分出一个金檀木科，放入冬青目，将其余的茶茱萸科转移到I类真菊分支之下。

The Icacinaceae are a family of flowering plants, consisting of trees, shrubs, and lianas, primarily of the tropics.

The family was traditionally circumscribed quite broadly, with around 55 genera totalling over 400 species. In 2001, though, this circumscription was found to be polyphyletic, and the family was split into four families in three different orders: Icacinaceae sensu stricto (unplaced at order rank), Pennantiaceae (Apiales), Stemonuraceae (Aquifoliales) and Cardiopteridaceae (also Aquifoliales). Icacinaceae sensu stricto contains about 150 species, distributed into about 35 genera. One genus was named in 2005. Icacinaceae sensu stricto is not monophyletic, but further studies will be needed before anyone can determine how it should be divided into segregate families. Icacina senegalensis extracts have shown activity against malaria parasites.