Objective: To discuss difference of digestive enzyme activity and their dynamic variation rule in the fermentation of medicated leaven composed by fresh or dry Chinese medicine and manufactured by different methods. Method: By studying on the decomposed recipes of medicated leaven

six groups of medicated leaven samples were prepared

including the basic group composed of flour

Vignae Semen and Armeniacae Semen Amarum

fresh medicine groups composed of the basic group and fresh medicine juicing or decocting

dry medicine groups composed of the basic group and 1/3 amount of dry medicine decocting

full amount of dry medicine decocting or 1/3 amount of dry medicine curshed mixing.Each group was fermented separately under natural conditions at 28℃ and 33℃

keeping humidity of 70%-80%

fermentation time for 10 d.In the fermentation process

each group needed to be daily dynamic sampling and then dried at 40℃ for testing.Digestive enzyme activity of each group was dynamic tested under different temperatures. Result: The fermentation situations in each group of medicated leaven was not sufficient and needed much longer time at 28℃;the activity of lipase and amylase reached the peak value at 3-4 d under fermentation at 33℃.Digestive enzyme activity of medicated leaven in the basic group and fresh medicine groups was higher than these dry medicine groups with statistical difference

but difference between the basic group and fresh medicine groups had no significance. Conclusion: With digestive enzyme activity as index

the quality of medicated leaven under condition of fermentation at 33℃ is superior to 28℃

fresh medicine groups are better than dry medicine groups

the fresh medicine decocting group is better than the fresh medicine juicing group.The suitable fermentation time of medicated leaven is 3-5 d.