Objective To investigate the effects of puerarin (PUE) on the rats with pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome (PIH), and the effects of PUE on renal injury induced by PIH. Methods The model of PIH rats were established by 〖HJ48x〗subcutaneous injection of NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester at the dose of 125 mg/kg. SD rats with successful pregnancy were divided into control group, model group, 50 mg/kg PUE group (50 PUE group) and 100 mg/kg PUE group (100 PUE group). The model group, 50 PUE group and 100 PUE group were PIH rats with 10 rats in each group. On the 16th day of pregnancy, rats in 50 PUE group and 100 PUE group were given PUE at the dose of 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg once a day, for 5 consecutive days. Rats in control group and model group were given the same amount of normal saline. The blood pressure of caudal artery was detected on the 1st, 12th, 15th, 18th and 21st days of pregnancy. On the 20th day of pregnancy, urine samples were collected within 24h of each group, and 24h urinary protein levels were detected by Bradford method. On the 21st day of pregnancy, serum and renal tissues of rats in each group were separated and collected. Serum creatinine (SCr) and serum urea nitrogen (BUN) levels were detected by automatic biochemical analyzer. The levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in serum were detected by ELISA. The contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH) in rat renal tissue were detected by a kit. The pathological changes of renal tissue were detected by HE and PAS staining. The apoptosis level of rat renal tissue was detected by TUNEL staining. The protein expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax and cleaved caspase-3 in rat renal tissues were detected by immunohistochemical staining and Western blot. Results On the 15th day of pregnancy, compared with the control group, the tail artery blood pressure in model group, 50 PUE group and 100 PUE group were increased (P＜0.05). On the 18th and 21st days of pregnancy, compared with the model group, the tail artery blood pressure in 50 PUE group and 100 PUE group were decreased (P＜0.05). On the 21st day of pregnancy, compared with the control group, severe cytoplasmic vacuolation, edema and dilation of renal tubules and glycogen deposition occurred in the model group. The level of 24h urinary protein and the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, SCr and BUN in serum were increased (P＜0.05). The contents of SOD and GSH and the relative expression of Bcl-2 protein in renal tissues were decreased (P＜0.05), MDA content and the relative expression of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 protein were increased (P＜0.05), and the rate of TUNEL positive cells was increased (P＜0.05). Compared with model group, the renal tissue injury degree of rats in 50 PUE group and 100 PUE group were decreased, and the levels of 24h urinary protein and the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, SCr and BUN in serum were decreased (P＜0.05). The contents of SOD and GSH and the relative expression of Bcl-2 protein in renal tissues were increased (P＜0.05), MDA content and the relative expression of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 protein were decreased (P＜0.05), and the rate of TUNEL positive cells was decreased (P＜0.05).Conclusion PUE can improve the symptoms of hypertension in PIH rats, inhibit renal inflammation and oxidative stress, inhibit cell apoptosis, and alleviate the renal tissue damage caused by PIH