Scientists Grow Mystery Tree from 1,000-Year-Old Seed
Scientists have successfully cultivated a tree from a 1,000-year-old seed discovered in the Judean Desert. The tree, nicknamed “Sheba,” has matured into a nearly 10-foot-tall specimen after 14 years of careful cultivation. DNA and chemical analyses have revealed that Sheba belongs to the Commiphora genus, which includes plants known for their aromatic resins like frankincense and myrrh.
The seed, estimated to be between 993 and 1202 CE, was found during an excavation in the late 1980s. Despite initial speculation that it might be related to the Judean Balsam, further analysis showed that Sheba lacks aromatic properties and is instead rich in medicinal compounds. Chemical analysis has shown that Sheba’s leaves and resin contain pentacyclic triterpenoids, which have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties, as well as squalene, an antioxidant with skin-smoothing properties.
Researchers believe that Sheba may represent an extinct lineage of trees once native to the Southern Levant, and its discovery could unravel the mystery behind the Biblical “tsori,” a resin associated with healing.
