Centella asiatica is a herbal medicine widely used in China and India for wound healing. The aim of this study was to examine its effects on the prevention of ethanol induced gastric lesions in rats. Gastric transmucosal potential difference (PD) was reduced by the application of 50% ethanol in the gastric ex-vivo chamber model and Centella extract (CE) accelerated its recovery. Oral administration of CE (0.05 g/kg, 0.25 g/kg and 0.50 g/kg) before ethanol administration significantly inhibited gastric lesions formation (58% to 82% reduction) and decreased mucosal myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in a dose dependent manner. These results suggested that CE prevented ethanol induced gastric mucosal lesions by strengthening the mucosal barrier and reducing the damaging effects of free radicals.