To develop a new anti-wrinkle agent from medicinal plants, this study investigated the optimal conditions for extracting elastase inhibitor from Rheum undulatum L. Maximal extraction occurred by using 70% methanol at $50^{circ}C$ for 24 hr; the elastase inhibitory activity was 60.4%($IC_{50}:6.7{ imes}10^3{mu}g/m{ell}$). Systematic solvent extraction, thin layer chromatography, silica gel column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, and reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography were used in the partial purification of the elastase inhibitor. The compound was soluble in dimethylsulfoxide, methanol, and ethanol, and had maximum absorption spectra at 231.5 nm and 275.5 nm.