AIM: To investigate the blocking effects of sodium ferulate (SF) on the nonenzymatic glycation and oxidation in kidneys of diabetic rats. METHODS: The diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin (STZ) were treated with SF (110 mg/kg) per day for 8 weeks. The renal weight/body weight, clearance rate of creatinine (Ccr), proteinuria, advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in renal cortex, and the malonyldialdehyde (MDA), fructosamine (FMN), antioxidant enzymes in serum and renal cortex were measured. The pathologic changes of kidneys were also observed. RESULTS: The levels of Ccr, proteinuria, FMN and AGEs in renal cortex, FMN in serum, and renal weight/body weight in diabetic group were significantly higher than those in normal control group. In the diabetic group, there was a highter level of MDA and a lower activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in serum and renal cortex than those in normal control group. Except for FMN in renal cortex, the abnormalities were significantly ameliorated in the treatment group. The pathologic changes was significant in the diabetic group, which was significantly ameliorated with the treatment of SF. CONCLUSIONS: SF protects the activity of antioxidant enzymes, clears away oxygen radicals and inhibits the deposit of AGEs in kindey, which may be the mechanisms of protecting effects of SF on kindey in diabetic rats. [