Polyphenol oxidase was purified from acetone powder extract of the root of Ixeris sonchifolia. The enzyme obtained by ammonium sulfate fractionation and sephadex G-200 gelfiltration gave 51-fold purification over the crude extract. The purified enzyme showed activity toward chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid and pyrocatechol. The kinetics of thermal inactivation of the enzyme followed first-order reaction. Potassium cyanide and cysteine were potent inhibitors.