Polyphenol oxidase in Yam was partially purified through ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE-cellulose column chromatography. The specific activity of purified PPO was 138.22 unit/mg protein. The optimum pH and temperature of purified PPO were respectively 7.0 and 30$^{circ}C$. The heat treatment at 80$^{circ}C$ for 6 min, decreased PPO activity to 50%. The enzyme showed high substrate specificity toward catechol. The Km value for catechol was 5 mM. In the Ames test using S. typhimurium TA98 and TA100 catechol-YEBRP, pyrogallol-YEBRP, chlorogenic-YEBRP showed strong antimutagenicity on sodium azide and MECF excepting hydroquinone-YEBRP showed killing effect on both strains.