Tartrazine (Tz) is a commonly used artificial food colorant which adversely impacts the health status. A broad spectrum of literatures indicates that gallic acid (GA) exert antioxidant and cytoprotective effects. Therefore, the current study aimed to evaluate the effect of four fold permitted dose of Tz as well as protective effects of GA on Tz-induced renotoxicity in adult male Wistar rats. Tz was orally administered daily at a dose of 30 mg/kg body weight alone, in combination with GA (TG) and a group of Tz intoxicated rats was allowed to be recovered, the experiment continued for 30 days. GA administration decreased the levels of creatinine, urea and uric acid. Furthermore, it increased catalase and superoxide dismutase activities, glutathione, nitric oxide and blood glucose while it decreased lipid peroxide compared with Tz treated group. Whereas, Tz recovery group (TR) enhanced some of toxic manifestations on kidney function caused by Tz. Histological investigation revealed that Tz induced many areas of leukocytic infiltration around congested blood vessels and renal tubules, hemorrhage between renal tubules and necrosis of many tubular cells. Moreover, it increased the amounts of collagen fiber and negative PAS reaction in many tubular cells. On the other hand, TG and the recovery groups reduced the deteriorations in histo-architecture and cellular structure caused by Tz exposure. In conclusion, Tz induces many extensive biochemical and histological changes meanwhile GA and recovery period could abolish or improve these changes.