Medicinal Tree Grown From a 1,000-Year-Old Cave Seed

An international team of botanists, agriculturists, and historians has successfully cultivated a mature tree from an ancient seed discovered in an Israeli cave.

In fact, in their study published in Communications Biology, the researchers detail the seed’s origin, the process of tracing its history, and the insights gained as the seed germinated and developed into a mature tree.

Ancient Seed from Judean Desert Cave Grows into Mature Tree After 1,000 Years

In the 1980s, researchers excavated a cave in Israel’s Judean Desert and discovered a seed dating back to between 993 and 1202 AD, making it approximately 1,000 years old. Tests indicated that the seed was still viable, so the team planted and nurtured it. Shortly after, it sprouted, and now, 14 years later, the tree has reached maturity.

Named Sheba, the tree stands about 3 meters tall with green leaves. As it grew, researchers studied its wood, resin, and leaves, concluding that its species is now extinct.

They also identified pentacyclic triterpenoids, compounds known for their anti-inflammatory properties, and squalene, an antioxidant used in skin treatments.

Cave Discovery Hints at Ancient Cultivation of Medicinal Trees Referenced in the Bible

However, the discovery of the seed in a cave suggests that ancient people in the region might have cultivated these trees, likely aware of their medicinal properties. The researchers theorize that the tree’s resin could be the “tsori” mentioned several times in the Bible.

The tree belongs to the genus Commiphora, related to frankincense and myrrh, but its exact species remains unknown as it has not yet flowered, preventing further study of its reproductive traits.

The findings suggest that this tree represents an extinct lineage that once thrived in the region, although the reasons for its extinction are unclear.

Read the original article on: Phys Org

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