Abstract
Epigenetic regulation-including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and small RNAs-plays a crucial role in modulating specialized metabolism in plants; specialized metabolites confer crucial pharmacological properties to plants, forming the basis of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Recent studies have highlighted the influence of these mechanisms on metabolite production in key medicinal plants such as Papaver somniferum and Salvia miltiorrhiza. Emerging technologies such as CRISPR/dCas9-based epigenome editing and miRNA modulation enable precise control of biosynthetic pathways. Integrating these molecular-level strategies into TCM research and the cultivation of medicinal plants could improve the efficacy and consistency of herbal medicinal products, providing molecular tools for the targeted regulation of active ingredients and thereby facilitating the modernization of TCM.