Dose-dependent protection by oleic acid against adrenaline–induced alterations in the activities of pro-oxidant enzymes of rat gastric tissue such as (A) Xanthine oxidase and (B) Xanthine dehydrogenase of the following groups:(CON) – Control rats, (ADR 0.3) -only adrenaline treated rats at 0.3 mg/kg bw, (OA2.5, OA5, OA10, OA20) – only oleic acid fed rats at the doses of 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg bw respectively & (ADR 0.3 + OA 2.5, ADR 0.3 + OA5, ADR 0.3 + OA10 and ADR 0.3 + OA20) – Oleic acid fed at the doses of 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg bw respectively and then adrenaline treated rats at 0.3 mg/kg bw. Values are expressed as means ± S.E. for six samples for each group.(∗p < 0.001 vs. control; #p < 0.001 vs. adrenaline treated).