Riboswitches are metabolite-binding RNA structures that serve as a novel gene regulatory element for mRNAs. Located in certain mRNAs, they can directly bind relevant small metabolites but not protein factors, and subsequently allosteric rearrangements modulate associated mRNA activities. They are believed to regulate in a wide set of fundamental metabolic pathways including vitamin B₁₂ and methionine biosynthesis in bacteria. The recent discovery of natural riboswitches, especially its property that precisely controlling basic metabolic pathways via binding to certain ligands with high affinity and specificity, inspires scientists to notice its potential application in medical research. The progress on the riboswitches, its characteristics, the function mechanism as well as the thinking and research trend triggered by its finding were introduced.