I present in this review the recent results obtained with ISO concerni
ng gas phase molecules in evolved stars. The near, medium and far-infr
ared spectrum of C-rich and O-rich stars can provide a very important
information on the molecular content of these objects. Detailed models
for the envelopes of AGE stars are also presented. I also report the
detection of triatomic carbon in the far-infrared and I analyze the co
ntribution of the re-vibrational lines of the low energy bending modes
of polyatomic molecules in the far-infrared spectrum of C-rich evolve
d stars.