A spice commonly used to add flavor to salads and other dishes by diners in Europe and the Middle East may also help protect against ulcers, according to Saudi Arabian researchers.

Arugula, or Rocket as its known overseas, was tested by a team led by Dr Syed Rafatullah who hypothesized that the plant’s antioxidant and anti-secretory properties may benefit in protecting against lesions in the stomach wall.

In laboratory tests, the scientists found that arugula reduced acid levels in lab animals’ stomachs, and limited the amounts of ulcers formed in those situations.

It may also benefit one’s diet in other ways as a supplement, as it contains Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids as well as some B vitamins, according to the USDA.

While the leafy green may be more likely to be found in gourmet markets, horticulturalists Mario Morales and Jules Janick proposed expanding agricultural production in the U.S., which may allow the vegetable to become as prevalent as it is in Europe.

More than 25 million Americans will suffer an ulcer at one time or another, according to National Institutes of Health statistics.