The invention discloses aesculetin with anti-oxidative and anti-aging activity as well as a preparation method and an application of aesculetin. The preparation method comprises preparation steps as follows: (1), cortex fraxini residues are dried, sterilized for 30 min under ultraviolet irradiation and taken out; (2), distilled water which is 8 times the sterilized cortex fraxini residues in parts by weight is added to the sterilized cortex fraxini residues for fermentation, after fermentation, a sample is taken out, dried, smashed and screened by a 30-mesh sieve, and fermented cortex fraxini residue powder is obtained; (3), an organic extracting agent is added to the fermented cortex fraxini residue powder for reflux extraction, extracting solutions are combined, a combined solution is filtered, and the organic extracting agent is subjected to reduced-pressure recovering and concentrated into thick paste; (4), distilled water is added to the thick paste for dilution, heating dissolution is performed, an obtained solution is filtered while still hot, and a filtrate is separated, purified and decolorized and then is subjected to reduced-pressure concentration and freeze drying finally. Aesculetin has a function of eliminating oxygen free radicals, has a protecting effect on cell DNA oxidative damage caused by lipid peroxide and can effectively delay skin cell senescence.