Near-infrared spectroscopy, as a fast and nondestructive analytical tool, is becoming attractive for quality control of traditional Chinese medicine. In this study, the near-infrared quantitative methods for rapid determination of the total content of five anthraquinone ingredients were developed in two ways and validated and compared by the accuracy profile method based on the total error concept. Sixty-five Rhubarb samples were collected and characterized by near-infrared spectra. The first method was developed by establishing the quantitative model to quantify the total content of anthraquinones directly, while the second was developed by establishing different quantitative models to determine the content of each anthraquinone in rhubarb and to calculate the accumulation. External four rhubarb samples were collected and the validation data were obtained through a "4 x 3 x 3" factorial design. The trueness, precision, and accuracy of both methods were evaluated and compared by accuracy profiles. The results showed that the trueness, precision, and accuracy of the former near-infrared quantitative method were within the acceptable limits, and performed much better than the latter one. This indicated that the former method was more capable to accurately determine the total content of anthraquinones in rhubarb. Moreover, the accuracy profile provided a new path to evaluate and select a proper near-infrared quantitative method to quality control of traditional Chinese medicine.