In the 80s, Professor Joseph Patrick found in the Judean desert a seed whose age was dated between the year 993 and 1202 AD The seed found in Wadi el Makkuk It was later investigated by Sarah Sallon, director of the Louis Borick Natural Medicine Research Center at Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem.
In 2010, the seed, nicknamed Sheba, was planted and germinated under the supervision of Dr. Elaine Solowey, director of the Arava Institute's Sustainable Agriculture Center at Kibbutz Ketura in southern Israel. Five weeks later, a sprout began to grow, and then its bark developed, and five months later, the tree produced resin.
The research is important because the ancient seed, identified as belonging to a species of the Commiphora genus, part of the frankincense and myrrh family, found in the desert cave is thought to be a new source of the biblical tsori, a type of medicinal balm mentioned in scripture.
Although the plant grown from the seed lacks aroma, DNA analysis and phytochemical studies have identified compounds with medicinal properties, such as anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral and anticancer effects.
The biblical tsori, cited in texts such as Genesis and Jeremiah, is associated with the historical region of Gilead, east of the Jordan River.