In vitro experiments indicate that Cymbopogon citratus possesses cytoprotective, antioxidant and hypotensive activity. This study tests the hypothesis that Cymbopogon citratus prevents fructose-induced hypertension in adult rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed normal rat chow and drank water alone (C), 10% fructose in water (F), 20% Cymbopogon citratus extract in water (CC) or 10% fructose plus 20% Cymbopogon citratus extract in water (FC) for 8 weeks. At 14 weeks of age, rats were anesthetized with thiopenthal (50 mg/kg body weight, i.p.), and were tracheostomized, and their femoral artery and vein were inserted polyethylene tube (PE-50 fused to PE-10) for the measuring of arterial blood pressure and infusion of phenylephrine and sodium nitroprusside, respectively. All data were expressed means ± S.E.M., compared by ANOVA, body weight, heart rate, baroreflex sensitivity, blood urea nitrogen, plasma creatinine, plasma sodium, plasma potassium and plasma chloride were not significantly different among the four groups. Compared to C group, high fructose intake (F group) significantly increased mean arterial pressure (C, 104±3 mm Hg versus F, 116±4 mm Hg; p < 0.05), decreased fasting blood sugar (C, 91±3 mg/dl versus F, 77±5 mg/dl; p < 0.05) and displayed glucose intolerance. These fructose effects were all abolished by Cymbopogon citratus extract treatment (FC group). In addition, the Cymbopogon citratus extract treatment alone had no any significant effect on measured parameters. The present data indicate that Cymbopogon citratus extract prevents fructose-induced hypertension in adult rats, likely by increasing insulin sensitivity.