Abstract: OBJECTIVE To observe the protective effect of bovine lactoferrin on gastric mucosal injury and gastric ulcer in rats. METHODS The assessment of bovine lactoferrin gastroprotective activity used an alcohol and pyloric ligation-induced gastric mucosal damage, and gastric ulcer model in water immersion stress and experimental acetic acid gastric ulcer in rats. Determination of the change of gastric mucosal injury, ulcer area, ulcer index, hexosamine and PEG₂ level of gastric mucosa, and gastric submucosal blood flow in rats for observing the protective effect of bovine lactoferrin on experimental gastric mucosal injury and gastric ulcer. Moreover, the influence of bovine lactoferrin on gastric juice volume, gastric acidity and protease activity of health rats were detected. RESULTS Bovine lactoferrin could reduce the ulcer index of alcohol and pyloric ligation-induced gastric ulcer rats, and improve the hexosamine and PEG₂ level of gastric mucosa and gastric submucosal blood flow. Meanwhile, bovine lactoferrin could decrease the ulcer area of stress and acetic acid gastric ulcer in rats. Moreover, gastric juice volume, and gastric acidity of health rats would also be inhibited by continuous gavage of high-dose bovine lactoferrin. CONCLUSION Bovine lactoferrin has protective effects on gastric mucosa on experimental gastric mucosal lesions and gastric ulcer rat model.