ObjectiveTo explore the protective mechanism and effect of the resveratrol for kidney injury of obstructive jaundice. MethodsThe rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham operation group receiving laparotomy without bile duct ligation (BDL), the obstructive jaundice group with BDL, and the obstructive jaundice + resveratrol group given resveratrol following BDL. The levels of total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (DBIL), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine (Cr) in the serum were tested. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, glutathione (GSH) level in the renal tissues were detected. The expressions of the silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) proteins were tested by Western blot. The expression of SIRT1 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR and the renal cell apoptosis was examined by TUNEL staining. Results①Compared with the sham operation group, the levels of serum TBIL, DBIL, BUN and Cr were significantly higher (P < 0.05); the activity of SOD and level of GSH, and the expressions of SIRT1 mRNA and SIRT1 protein in the renal tissues were signi-ficantly lower (P < 0.05); the content of MDA, the expression of NF-κB protein, and the rate of cell apoptosis in the renal tissues were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the obstructive jaundice group.②Compared with the obstructive jaundice group, the levels of serum TBIL, DBIL, BUN and Cr were significantly lower (P < 0.05); the activity of SOD and level of GSH, and the expressions of SIRT1 mRNA and SIRT1 protein in the renal tissues were significantly higher (P < 0.05); the content of MDA, the expression of NF-κB protein, and the rate of cell apoptosis in the renal tissues were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the obstructive jaundice+resveratrol group. ConclusionThe resveratrol could alleviate renal damage and play a beneficial role to resist inflammation, oxidation, and apoptosis by activating the SIRT1 which probably inhibits the expression of NF-κB protein and promotes the activity of SOD in cholestatic kidney injury.