The methanol extract of the seeds of Retama raetam was studied for its preventive and curative effects in gentamicin-induced acute renal failure in rats. Twenty-four rats were divided into four different groups. Group 1 was served as a control group, Group 2 and 3 were administered a daily dose of gentamicin (40 mg/kg body weight s.c) for 13 days. In case of group 3, rats were administered with the extract (30 mg/kg b. wt.) from the 14^th day onwards for 10 days. While in group 4 rats were treated with an oral dose of the extract equivalent to 30 mg/kg b. wt. after 2 hoursof subcutaneous injection of gentamicin for 13 days. Serum urea and creatinine levels were measured. Moreover, histopathological as well as morphometrical investigations were performed. In the gentamicin model, the methanol extract of R. raetam (30 mg/kg b. wt.) reduced blood urea and serum creatinine effectively in the curative and the preventive treatment. Light microscopic examination of the renal tissues from gentamicin-treated rats revealed severe histopathological and morphometrical changes, whereas specimens obtained from extract-treated rats revealed only mild changes. These findings recommend that the methanol extract of the seeds of R. raetam counteract the deleterious effect of gentamicin on renal tubular function and structure