Objective To observe the influence of resveratrol on superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) of intestinal mucosal ischemia-reperfusion injury protection in rats with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Methods Fifty-four rats were divided into three groups randomly: sham operation group (SO group), SAP model group (SAP group) and resveratrol-treated group (Res group). SAP model was made by injecting sodium taurocholate 50 mg/kg to pancreatic bile duct and resveratrol was given intravenously at 5 min after inducing SAP model. The rats were sacrificed at 3 h, 6 h and 12 h after inducing SAP model respectively by equal number. The levels of MDA, SOD, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 and histological changes of small intestine were measured. Results The level of MDA in small intestine tissue in SAP group was significantly higher than that in SO group (P＜0.05), while the activity of SOD was significantly lower in the relevant tissues (P＜0.05). The expressions of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in SAP group were higher than those of SO group (P＜0.05). The activity of SOD in small intestine tissue in Res group was significantly higher than that in SAP group (P＜0.05); while the level of MDA was significantly lower in the relevant tissues (P＜0.05). The expressions of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in Res group were lower than those of SAP group (P＜0.05). Conclusions Oxygen free radicals are concerned with the process of pathological changes in intestinal mucosal ischemia-reperfusion in rats with SAP. Resveratrol might increase SOD activity and decrease MDA level to attenuate lipid peroxidation in small intestine of SAP, and reduce the expressions of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in intestine, thus diminish the damage of the intestine in SAP. And it acts as a protective effect to small intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury.