Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of leaves of 18 plants growing in South China Agricultural University were determined and reported in this paper. The leaves of 5 plants, Plumeria rubra cv. acutifolia, Magnolia denudata, Passiflora edulis,Bauhinia variegata and Pennisetum purpureum , had higher activity,above 400 units/g fresh weight.SOD was partially purified from Pennisetum purpureum leaves by heat treatment,(NH 4) 2SO 4 precipitation,and DEAE- cellulose chromatography,and its properties studied.