The aim of the present study was to determine the potential beneficial effects of Ficus racemosa extract. Potassium bromate (KBrO3), a potent nephrotoxic agent that induces renal carcinogenesis and acts as tumour promoter in carcinogen-initiated animals was used as a model to induce renal injury. In this study, we show the chemopreventive effect of Ficus racemosa extract (Moraceae) on KBrO3-mediated renal oxidative stress and cell promotion response in rats. KBrO3 (125 mg/kg body weight, intraperitoneally) enhanced lipid peroxidation, xanthine oxidase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) generation with reduction in renal glutathione content and antioxidant enzymes. KBrO3 treatment also induced tumour promotion markers, viz., ornithine decarboxylase activity and thymidine [3H] incorporation into renal DNA. A sharp elevation in the levels of blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine has also been observed. Treatment of rats orally with Ficus racemosa extract (200 mg/kg body weight and 400 mg/kg body weight) resulted in a significant decrease in xanthine oxidase (P<0.05), lipid peroxidation (P<0.001), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (P<0.001) and H(2O2 (P<0.001). There was significant recovery of renal glutathione content (P<0.01) and antioxidant enzymes (P<0.001). There was also reversal in the enhancement of renal ornithine decarboxylase activity, DNA synthesis, blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine (P<0.001). Our results suggest that Ficus racemosa extract is a potent chemopreventive agent and suppresses KBrO3-mediated nephrotoxicity in rats.