Objective: To investigate whether extract of ginkgo biloba(EGb) could induce heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and attenuate the subsequent renal ischemia-reperfusion(I/R) injury in rats. Methods: 32 male Wistar rats were randomly distributed into 4 experimental groups of which Sham operation group, I/R group and EGb group(EGb 20mg/kg were administered intraperitoneally into rats 24 hours before I/R), and EGb+ZnPPⅨ group rats were injected with EGb 20mg/kg and ZnPPⅨ45μmol/kg). These rats underwent the renal I/R injury by occluding left artery for 50 min and then by reperfusion for 24 hours. The expression of HO-1 and its activity in renal tissue,serum levels of creatinine(Cr), blood urea nitrogen(BUN), tissue malondialdehyde(MDA) as well as total anti-oxidative capability(TAOC) were examined. Results: ①Compared with I/R group, EGb induced expression of HO-1 significantly and increased its activity markedly(P<0.01).②Compared with Sham operation group, the serum levels of Cr, BUN and MDA were significantly higher (P<0.05 respectively) and renal histologic damages more severe, but TAOC decreased(P<0.05) in I/R group; induction of HO-1 by EGb before I/R reversed the above changes, while the protective effect of EGb against renal ischemia-reperfusion injury was partially suppressed by Zinc protoporphyrin-Ⅸ(ZnPPⅨ), a HO inhibitor. Conclusion: The findings indicated that EGb ameliorates subsequent renal I/R injury in rats significantly by induction of HO-1 in the renal tissue.