Is this 1,000-year-old seed the key to cancer cure? Scientists say it might be
Scientists believe a 1,000-year-old seed from the Judean Desert could hold the key to curing cancer, with its tree containing compounds that show anti-cancer and healing properties.
A 900-year-old seed discovered in the Judean Desert has led scientists to believe that it might hold the potential for a cancer cure. The archaeologists recently found this seed buried in a cave between the West Bank and Israel, and it is believed to belong to a lineage of trees mentioned in the Bible. Fourteen years after its discovery, the tree now stands tall and healthy at 10 feet, and researchers believe it could contain powerful medicinal properties that may contribute to the long search for a cancer cure.
Can the tree cancer cure?
The ancient seed, which scientists have named “Sheba,” hails from a species believed to be extinct. When researchers took a first look at the mature tree, they found a very important discovery: the tree may be the wellspring of “tsori,”a resin known for its healing abilities in biblical texts.”Our initial hypothesis was that ‘Sheba’ might be a candidate for the historical ‘Judean Balsam’,” the researchers explained.
In a chemical analysis conducted on the leaves of Sheba, researchers found active compounds that should possess anti-inflammatory as well as anti-cancer properties. Its stems and leaves also proved antioxidant and skin-smoothing benefits; this further supported the theory of scientists that “Sheba” could be the long-lost source of a potent natural medicine.
“We believe these findings support our second hypothesis, that ‘Sheba’… may represent an extinct (or at least extirpated) [lineage] once native to this region, whose resin ‘tsori’ mentioned in Biblical texts was valuable, associated with healing but not described as fragrant,” scientists said.
Still a mystery after 14 years
Although promising medicinal properties, scientists cannot yet identify the exact species of “Sheba”. The tree did not produce flowers nor any reproductive materials in the last 14 years. The reproduction is an important phase which would help in determining specific categorization. However, DNA analysis already suggests that “Sheba” belongs to the same family as the myrrh and frankincense, referred to in the Bible.
“If Judean Balsam survives today as an extant Commiphora species there remains the possibility that scientists have not yet recognised it,” researchers stated.
While the mystery of Sheba’s species remains unsolved, the tree’s potential medicinal applications offer a glimmer of hope for breakthroughs in the treatment of cancer and other ailments.
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