Aim To investigate the effects of naringenin (NAR) on high glucose (HG)-induced rat cardiomyocytes (H9c2) apoptosis and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/antioxidant response element (ARE) signaling pathway. Methods The cultured H9c2 cells were divided into control group (normal glucose content), HG group (35.5 mmol/L glucose) and HG＋NAR low, medium, high concentration groups (35.5 mmol/L glucose＋6.5,2.5,5.0 μmol/L NAR). The proliferation activity of H9c2 cells was detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium method; Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry; The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells was detected by fluorescent probe staining with dichloro-dihydro-fluorescein diacetate; The expression levels of Nrf2, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), Bax, Caspase-3 and Bcl-2 proteins were detected by Western blot. Results The proliferation activity, the expression levels of Nrf2, HO-1 and Bcl-2 proteins in H9c2 cells treated with HG decreased significantly, while the apoptosis rate, ROS level, Bax and Caspase-3 proteins expression levels increased significantly (P＜0.05). After the H9c2 cells were treated with HG and NAR, the proliferation activity and the expression levels of Nrf2, HO-1 and Bcl-2 proteins in H9c2 cells increased significantly in the NAR low, medium and high concentration groups, while the apoptosis rate, ROS level, Bax and Caspase-3 proteins expression levels decreased significantly (P＜0.05). Conclusion NAR can inhibit H9c2 cell apoptosis induced by HG, and its mechanism may be closely related to activation of Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway.