Objective: To screen a new strain which can transform panaxadiol saponins into the rare ginsenoside compound K.
Method: 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.
Result: 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.
Conclusion: 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.