[Application and advantage of near infrared spectroscopy technology in authentication of Chinese materia medica].

This review introduced the application of near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in the identification of species, production area and processing method as well as quality evaluation of Chinese materia medica (CMM). By comparing with other authentication methods of CMM, the NIRS technology showed great advantages in exclusive identification of CMM, both identification and quality evaluation of CMM as well as identification of famous-region medicinal material. Finally, the future direction of the authentication of CMM by NIRS technology was suggested.