Aims <p>Considering the pivotal role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of pulmonary disorders, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between lead toxicity and lung damage by evaluating oxidative stress markers.</p> Background <p>The lungs are among the most vulnerable organs to lead-induced toxicity.</p> Objective <p>This research evaluated the therapeutic potential of bee pollen and bee pollen-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) against lead acetate-induced pulmonary injury in adult male albino rats.</p> Methods <p>Forty adult male albino Wistar rats were randomly divided into eight groups (<i>n</i> = 5): a control group (4 mL/kg olive oil), a lead acetate group (25&#xa0;mg/kg), three groups treated with lead acetate (25&#xa0;mg/kg) plus bee pollen extract at doses of 200, 400, and 800&#xa0;mg/kg, and three groups treated with lead acetate (25&#xa0;mg/kg) plus bee pollen-loaded SLNs at the same doses for 14 consecutive days.</p> Results <p>Bee pollen and nano-formulated bee pollen significantly alleviated the oxidative imbalance induced by lead acetate. Lead exposure increased malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels, while markedly decreasing total thiol groups (TTG), glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Treatment with bee pollen and especially bee pollen SLNs effectively restored these parameters and improved the histological architecture of lung tissue.</p> Conclusion <p>The findings clearly demonstrate that bee pollen and its nano-formulated counterpart exert protective effects against lead-induced pulmonary toxicity, as evidenced by both biochemical and histopathological analyses. These agents may serve as promising therapeutic candidates for mitigating oxidative damage associated with lead poisoning.</p>