ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To screen a new strain which can transform panaxadiol saponins into the rare ginsenoside compound K.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The total saponins in stems and leaves of Panax notoginseng was used as a substrate in the liquid state fermentation process, and the results were detected by TLC and HPLC-ELSD to screen a strain from twelve plant pathogenic fungi which can produce ginsenoside compound K.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Fusarium moniliforme was found to transform the total saponins to ginsenoside compound K efficiently in the all twelve fungal strains. In the fermentation process, ginsenoside Rb1 was transformed almost completely, and the content of ginsenoside Rd was decreasing evidently.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>F. moniliforme is selected as a new high-yield strain. It is expected to be used to produce the high activity infrequent ginsenoside compound K and to improve the content of active principles in medicinal plants.</p>