This article reviews the research progress of optical probe technology in the exploration of functional factors in food-medicine dual-use materials. The paper outlines the significant role of traditional Chinese medicine and food-medicine dual-use materials in modern medical and dietary therapy research, and highlights the limitations of traditional techniques for identifying functional factors. It then systematically introduces the main classifications of optical probes and further elaborates on their various applications in the identification of functional factors, such as specific examples in the screening and functional evaluation of active components in traditional Chinese medicine (including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral properties). These research advancements provide important references for further exploration in related fields.