By bringing back ancient tree and plant species, could scientists unlock new medicinal and cosmetic uses once thought lost to time?
A seed from around 1,000 years ago was planted by researchers 14 years ago and has grown into a 3m tall specimen tree (called Sheba) which may belong to a species from which the biblical word 'tsori' (which translates to balm in English) is derived. The balsam, or tree resin, was known for its healing properties and is mentioned in Genesis, Jeremiah and Ezekiel.
A mysterious plant species
It is astonishing that a tree from a once-extinct population living in the southern Levant, which includes what is now Israel, Palestine and Jordan, could be brought back to life from an ancient seed. The researchers used radiocarbon dating to place the tree's origin between 993 and 1202 AD.
They also determined that the sample tree belonged to the Commiphora genus in the Burseraceae tree family, which includes frankincense and myrrh. The researchers suggest that the resurrected tree is closely related to three species known to live in South Africa: C. neglecta, C. angolensis and C. tenuipetiolata. However, the researchers cannot be certain of the exact species, as they would need to see the tree in bloom and observe its reproductive characteristics.
A healing plant from the Bible
Some believe that the lemon balm plant mentioned in the scriptures is a specific species called opobalsamum or Gilead balm (Commiphora gileadensis L.). Some historians, such as the first-century Jewish historian Josephus Flavius, believe that the plant was given to Cleopatra as a gift by Mark Anthony. It was also said that the plant was given to King Solomon as a gift by the Queen of Sheba.
“Our initial hypothesis was that ‘Sheba’ could be a candidate for the historical ‘Judean Balsam.’ However, they observed that the tree lacked aromatic compounds (which are associated with the richly scented perfume that Judean Balsam is known to possess) and instead looked to the tree’s medicinal properties, supporting a second hypothesis that the tree may represent the species from which the biblical medicinal resin called tsori was obtained,” the scientists wrote in their research paper.
Analysis of the leaves and resin of Sheba has revealed a number of medicinal compounds, including some biologically active pentacyclic triterpenoids. These triterpenoids are known to have anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. This information, combined with the fact that the seed was found in the Judean Desert, suggests that the tree may be one of the same species that produces the biblical tsori.
Source: https://www.yourweather.co.uk