To investigate the defense mechanism against the abiotic stress, a cDNA clone encoding a CuZn superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) protein was isolated from a cDNA library prepared from tabroot mRNAs of Codonopsis lanceolata. The eDNA, designated ClSODCc, is 799 nucleotides long and has an open reading frame of 459 bp with a deduced amino acid sequence of 152 residues. The deduced amino acid sequence of ClSODCc matched to the previously reported CuZnSODs. Consensus amino acid residues (His-45, -47, -62, -70, -79, -119 and Asp-82) were involved in Cu-, Cu/Zn-, and Zn- binding ligands. The deduced amino acid sequence of ClSODCc showed high homologies (82％-86％) regardless of species. Expression of ClSODCc by oxidative stress was increased up to 1 h after treatment and declined gradually. Much earlier and stronger expression of ClSODCc was observed in the cold stress treatment.