Ischemia/reperfusion injury, which is commonly seen in the field of renal surgery or transplantation, is a major cause of acute renal failure. Previous studies showed that antioxidant treatments attenuated renal ischemia/reperfusion injury. The objective of this study was to examine the role of hesperidin in modulating reactive oxygen species induced inflammation and apoptosis after renal ischemia/reperfusion injury. Rats were subjected to right nephrectomy, 15 days later 45 min of renal ischemia and 24 h reperfusion with or without treatment with hesperidin. Renal function, inflammation and apoptosis were compared at 24 h after reperfusion injury. Hesperidin improved the renal dysfunction and reduced inflammation and apoptosis after ischemia/reperfusion injury. In conclusion, hesperidin shows potent anti-apoptotic and antiinflammatory properties due to antioxidant property. These findings may have major implications in the treatment of human ischemic acute renal failure.