Arugula extract benefit for ulcer - Eruca Sativa

Arugula is a peppery flavored leafy green vegetable that has been consumed in the Mediterranean region since ancient times. In recent years, it has become more popular worldwide as a way to spice up a salad.

Ulcer protection
Adding arugula to a salad may be one way to help reduce the risk for stomach ulcers, according to an animal study. Dr. Syed Rafatullah and colleagues at King Saud University in Riyadh exposed rats to alcohol, the anti-inflammatory painkiller indomethacin and other substances that can damage stomach lining, leading to ulcers. When Eruca sativa extract was given orally or by infusion into the abdomen to animals before administering the stomach-damaging compounds, stomach acid production and ulcer formation declined. Arugula extract may increase levels of prostaglandins, hormone-like substances in the body that dial down stomach acid production and protect the stomach lining. Dr. Syed Rafatullah says arugula leaves contain a number of antioxidants, which may help protect stomach cells from damage. World Journal of Gastroenterology, April 28, 2009.