Inflammatory mechanisms may play an important role in the pathogenesis of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. Curcumin is an orange-yellow polyphenol present in curry spice and has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. The purpose of this study was to determine the protective effects of curcumin on cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. Mice were randomly divided into four groups: control, cisplatin, cisplatin + curcumin and curcumin. Mice were given cisplatin (20 mg/kg body weight, intraperitoneally) with or without curcumin treatment (100 mg/kg body weight, intraperitoneally, immediately after cisplatin injection). Serum and renal tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and renal monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 concentrations, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) mRNA expression in kidney, renal function and histological changes were determined 72 h after cisplatin injection. Serum TNF-alpha concentration in the cisplatin + curcumin group significantly decreased compared with that in the cisplatin group. Renal TNF-alpha and MCP-1 concentrations and ICAM-1 mRNA expression in kidney in the cisplatin + curcumin group also significantly decreased compared with those in the cisplatin group. Consequently, cisplatin-induced renal dysfunction and renal tubular necrosis scores were attenuated by curcumin treatment. These results indicate that curcumin acts to reduce cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity through its anti-inflammatory effects. Thus, curcumin may become a new therapeutic candidate for the treatment of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity.