In a remarkable feat of botanical archaeology, an international team of researchers have successfully grown a mature, medicinal tree from a 1,000-year-old seed found in a cave in Israel. This incredible discovery sheds light on the ancient knowledge and uses of this once-extinct plant species.
Rediscovering a Lost Treasure
The story of this venerable tree starts in the 1980s; researchers excavating a cave in the Judean Desert found an amazing thing: they uncovered an ancient seed between 993 and 1202 AD — so approximately a thousand years old.
At first the scientists were not sure if the seed was still viable but after some tests they deemed it worth planting and caring for. The seedling grew and matured into a 3-meter tree with lovely lush green foliage lining its branches over the next 14 years to their delight.
They named that ancient tree “Sheba” and studied the wood, resin and leaves of this giant sucker shrub. The results they found were truly incredible.
The Medicinal Secrets of The Sheba Tree
The exciting bit was that lexically, the Sheba tree is a member of the Crassiulaceae family also referred to as Commiphora, exactly where the various kinds of highly priced frankincense and myrrh are found. This link hinted at potential medicinal use of the tree in historic times.
In fact, their data analysis showed that the tree is rich in pentacyclic triterpenoids, which are bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory activity and therapeutic potential. The researchers also discovered that the oil rich in squalene, a natural antioxidant widely used in skincare line.basicConfig.
Based on the detection of these valuable compounds, it is believed that the Sheba tree possibly corresponds to Species in the Bible called ‘tsori’, one of the most practiced medicinal substances known to humanity. This provocative relationship has sparked interest in learning more about the history value and uses of this amazing tree.
Conclusion
The successful regeneration of the Sheba tree from the 1,000-year-old seed is an extraordinary accomplishment with huge scientific and cultural significance. It is not just a beacon illuminating the lost wisdom held in this previously extinct species, but may also give us hope for recovering some other medicinal gems that could benefit people far more widely than just succulent collectors. The resiliency of life and the strength of nature is evident in the Sheba tree, as researchers still study this botanical wonder.
