ABSTRACT
The quality control of Chinese materia medica (CMM) has been the focus of the modernization of CMM, while the screening of efficient constituents in CMM provides the prerequisite and foundation for quality control. Numerous methods had been used for studying the efficient constituents in CMM, but still in the exploratory stage. It still needs to be developed in theory and systemic integration. This article reviewed the development of CMM, analyzed the screening ideas, component compatibility, and quality control mode of the existing efficient components in CMM, for seeking the efficient components in CMM from the complex component groups and building the research ideas of compatibility relations. Its main aim was to provide the reference for the construction of the follow-up quality evaluation system to recognize the key efficient components of CMM precisely and quickly, and to meet with the requirements that the quality control standards for CMM would be effectiveness-related, quantitative and accurate, controllable and assessable.