BACKGROUND The aim of the present study was to examine the protective effect of curcumin (CUR) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced nephrotoxicity to evaluate the detailed mechanisms by which CUR exerts its protective action. METHODS Thirty male Wistar-Albino rats weighing 250-300 g were randomly divided into three groups: administrations of olive oil (control, po), CCl4 (0.5mg/kg in olive oil sc) every other day for 3 weeks, and CCl4 (0.5mg/kg in olive oil sc) plus CUR (200mg/kg) every day for 3 weeks. RESULTS Administration of CCl4 significantly (p<0.001) increased the levels of renal function test such as creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Furthermore, treatment of CCl4 significantly elevated the oxidant status of renal tissues while decreasing its anti-oxidant status (p<0.001). CUR displayed a renal protective effect as evident by significant decrease in inflammation and apoptosis during histopathological examination. The administration of CCl4 resulted in an increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) production due to an increase in membrane lipid peroxidation; however, the administration of CUR attenuated this, probably via its antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties. CONCLUSIONS The finding of our study indicates that CUR may have an important role to play in protecting the kidney from oxidative insult.