Scientists have brought back to life a 1,000-year-old seed from the Judean desert, giving birth to the “Sheba” tree, which may be related to the biblical substance “tsori”. This tree, with potential medicinal properties, offers fascinating insights into its origins and past uses.
The Biblical Tree – Photo Dr. Sarah Sallon
Researchers have brought back to life a mysterious 1,000-year-old seed found in the Judean desert, and the resulting tree may belong to a lost lineage mentioned in the Bible, according to Live Science, cited by Agerpres.
After almost 14 years of work, the tree, named “Sheba”, which is 3 meters tall, now offers the opportunity to study its characteristics through chemical tests, DNA analysis and radiocarbon dating, according to a study published in the journal Communications Biology on September 10.
The seed from which “Sheba” grew dates back to between 993 and 1202 AD. and survived by probably carrying the genes of an extinct population of trees in the southern Levant, which includes modern Israel, Palestine and Jordan. This is the first seed of this type discovered in the region. Scientists suggest that the tree may be the source of “tsori”, a biblical resinous extract with healing properties, mentioned in the Books of Genesis and in the prophecies of Jeremiah and Ezekiel.
The 1000-year-old seed – Photo by Dr. Sarah Sallon
“The identity of this biblical ‘tsori’ (translated into English as ‘balm’) has long been the subject of debate”, according to the study.
The substance is associated with the historical region of Gilead, located east of the Jordan River between the Yarmuk River and the northern shore of the Dead Sea. With the revival of the “Sheba” tree, researchers say they have revealed the mystery of the biblical substance “tsori”.
“I like to solve mysteries,” said Dr. Sarah Sallon, who has devoted her life to studying medicinal plants in Israel and restoring the species that once grew here, according to The Jerusalem Post.
The Sheba tree – source of the biblical tsori elixir
Botanists have classified the “Sheba” tree in the genus Commiphora, part of the family Burseraceae, from which myrrh and frankincense are extracted, including about 200 species. These trees are predominantly found in Africa, Madagascar and the Arabian Peninsula. At the moment, it is not known exactly which species ‘Sheba’ comes from, as the tree has not yet flowered and researchers cannot analyze its reproductive material. However, “Sheba” is known to be closely related to three species of Commiphora: C. angolensis, C. neglecta and C. tenuipetiolata, found in southern Africa.
The tree is more loosely related to species of Commiphora that produce fragrant resins, such as C. gileadensis, which some scientists argue is the historical source of a type of perfume and a type of incense highly prized in Antiquity and known under the names of “balsam of Judea” or “balsam of Gilead” – a variant that is not accepted by the entire scientific community.
“Our initial hypothesis is that ‘Sheba’ could be a candidate for ‘Judean balm'”according to the new study, but the tree’s lack of aromatic compounds led them to abandon this hypothesis.
Analyzes have indicated that “Sheba” has multiple medicinal properties, and together with other factors, including its discovery site in the northern Judean desert, suggest that it may represent the source of the biblical tsori elixir.
“We are increasingly convinced that it is the original Commiphora that once grew here in the Bronze Age (around 1800 BC), a native plant well adapted to the area Dead Sea and source of this valuable resin, tsori. Perhaps 1,000 years ago, a few of these trees remained. But when we realized there was nothing (genetically) like it, we had a moment of revelation.”Dr. Sallon relayed.
The chemical analysis of the leaves and resin of the “Sheba” tree showed that it is rich in pentacyclic triterpenoids, active biological compounds with anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic effects. The leaves and stem also contain high levels of squalene, a natural oily substance with antioxidant and skin-improving properties. Further analysis is currently being conducted to identify another potential compound with anticancer properties from this tree.
“We believe that these results support our second hypothesis, according to which ‘Sheba’ (…) could represent a lineage of extinct trees from this region, whose resin ‘tsori’, mentioned in biblical texts, was a valuable resource associated with healing but not described as a perfume’ it is specified in the research.
