Objective To study the protective effects of curcumin on liver function in rats exposed to cadmium. Methods A total of 64 Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats were randomly divided into 8 groups，including the control group，cadmium group Ⅰ-Ⅴ （Cd Ⅰ-Ⅴ），curcumin group，and Cd + curcumin group. According to the different intervention methods in each group，continuous intragastric administration was performed for 90 days. The behaviors of the rats were observed and their body weights were recorded. The rats were killed after the modeling was completed. Liver tissues and blood of rats were collected，liver indexes were calculated，and liver function，blood lipid and oxidative damage related indexes in liver tissues were detected. Results Compared with the control group，the liver indexes of the cadmium group （Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ） were increased；The levels of serum TG and TCHO in the cadmium group Ⅳ were increased；Serum ALT，ALP，and TBA of the cadmium group （Ⅳ、Ⅴ） were increased；The contents of XOD and MDA in liver tissues of the cadmium group （Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ） were increased，while the activities of SOD were decreased （P < 0.05）. Besides，compared with the cadmium group Ⅲ，liver index and serum ALT in the cadmium + curcumin group were decreased，and the differences were statistically significant （P < 0.05）；the contents of serum TG and MDA in liver tissue decreased，while the activity of SOD increased. Conclusion Curcumin played the role of antioxidant and lipid metabolism regulation，as well as protected the liver function of rats exposed to cadmium. This study provided theoretical basis for curcumin in the treatment of cadmium-induced liver injury.