Epilepsy is a chronic brain dysfunction disease with complex and diverse causes, but 70%-80% of patients do not have obvious characteristic phenotypic symptoms. In order to provide precise treatment for epilepsy patients, research on the genetic pathogenic factors and pathogenesis of epilepsy has attracted much attention. Different types of epilepsy are constantly found to be closely related to mutations in specific genes, such as SCN1A, KCNA2, KCNT1, GABRA1, TSCs, CDKL5, and so on. Therefore, the development of broad-spectrum antiepileptic drugs is very difficult. However, plant-based drugs or functional ingredients derived from traditional medicinal herbs, such as cannabinol, aconitine, and dodecenal, will expand the development of safer and more effective anti epileptic drugs.