RESUMO
The infrared spectrum of Chinese herbs possesses the character similar to fingerprint. The purpose to identify Chinese herbs can be achieved by way of comparing these spectra. The software of comparing correlation coefficient array of FTIR spectra was designed in Visual Basic 6.0. It established an infrared spectrum database including more than 300 kinds of Chinese herbs. The FTIR spectra of unknown herb can be compared with those of Chinese herbs in the database, and this method can identify the suitable herbs according to the similar herbs in the database. The study shows that within the spectral database of herbs, the factors of spectral interference, such as H2O, CO2, etc., can be avoided through assigning threshold values of correlation coefficients and comparing spectra with characteristic peak bands, and the comparison result is credible and correct. This method was expected to be a common method in identifying Chinese herbs.