Scientists have successfully grown a 1,000-year-old mysterious seed discovered in the Judean desert, yielding a specimen of a plant mentioned in the Bible.
The research team spent nearly 14 years to cultivate the plant from ancient seeds excavated from a cave in the late 1980s. Nicknamed “Sheba”, the current specimen stands about 3 meters tall, allowing researchers to finally describe its mature characteristics. They were also able to conduct DNA, chemical, and carbon dating analyses, revealing new clues about its origins, according to a study published in the journal Communications Biology, as reported by Live Science on September 23.
The research team planting ancient seeds in 2010. (Photo: Sarah Sallon).
The seeds that sprouted into the Sheba plant date back to around 993 – 1202, according to the research. It likely survived from a population of trees that are now extinct, which existed in the southern Levant, an area including Israel, Palestine, and Jordan. The mature specimen may be the source of a perfumed oil called “tsori” derived from the tree’s resin, renowned for its healing properties in the Bible. This compound is associated with the region of Gilead, located east of the Jordan River between the Yarmuk River and the northern tip of the Dead Sea. After reviving Sheba, the research team believes they may ultimately uncover the mystery surrounding tsori.
The researchers identified Sheba as belonging to the genus Commiphora, which is part of the Burseraceae family, comprising around 200 plant species that still exist today. Commiphora species are primarily found in Africa, Madagascar, and the Arabian Peninsula. The team, led by Sarah Sallon at the Natural Medicine Research Center in Israel, is uncertain about the exact species of Sheba as it has not yet flowered, thus not producing the reproductive material needed for more detailed analysis.
However, it is certain that Sheba is closely related to three Commiphora species: C. angolensis, C. neglecta, and C. tenuipetiolata, which grow in southern Africa. The team’s analysis indicates that Sheba does not contain aromatic compounds but does exhibit a range of medicinal properties. Along with other characteristics, such as the location where the seeds were found in the northern Judean desert, it supports the theory that it could be the source of the biblical perfumed oil tsori.
Chemical analysis of Sheba’s leaves and resin revealed that the plant is very rich in pentacyclic triterpenoids, bioactive compounds known for their anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. The leaves and roots also have high levels of squalene, a natural oil that helps in antioxidant defense and skin smoothing. The research team will need to conduct further investigations to identify other potential anti-cancer compounds within the plant tissue.
