An extracellular limonoate dehydrogenase was purified 10-fold from a cell-free extract of Rhodococcus fascians by ammonium sulfate precipitation, dialysis, and ultrafiltration. This purified dehydrogenase catalyzed the conversion of limonoate to 17-dehydrolimonoate. The enzyme showed optimum activity at pH 8.0 and $40^{circ}C$, with $K_m$ value of 0.9$muM$, and requires Zn ions and sulfhydryl groups for catalytic action. The enzyme activity was inhibited by $Hg^{2+};and;NaN_3$ ions. The degradation of limonin (66%) in Kinnow mandarin juice was successfully demonstrated with partially purified limonoate dehydrogenase. With scale-up preparation of limonoate dehydrogenase, a successful debittering operation of fruit juices appears feasible.