Kantalu, Kaṇṭālu: 7 definitions
Introduction:
Kantalu means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, biology. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Hinduism
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: Wisdom Library: Āyurveda and botanyKaṇṭālu (कण्टालु) is another name (synonym) for Vārttākī, which is the Sanskrit word for Solanum melongena (eggplant), a plant from the Solanaceae family. This synonym was identified by Narahari in his 13th-century Rājanighaṇṭu (verses 7.194-195), which is an Ayurvedic medicinal thesaurus.
Source: WorldCat: Rāj nighaṇṭu1) Kaṇṭālu (कण्टालु) is another name for Bṛhatī, a medicinal plant identified with Solanum indicum var. lividum (synonym of Solanum anguivi or ‘forest bitterberry’ or ‘African eggplant’) from the Solanaceae or “nightshades” family of flowering plants, according to verse 4.23-25 of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu. The fourth chapter (śatāhvādi-varga) of this book enumerates eighty varieties of small plants (pṛthu-kṣupa). Together with the names Kaṇṭālu and Bṛhatī, there are a total of seven Sanskrit synonyms identified for this plant.
2) Kaṇṭālu (कण्टालु) is also mentioned as a synonym for Kaṇṭapuṅkhā, a medicinal plant mentioned as a variety of Śarapuṅkhā, identified with Tephrosia purpurea Linn. (“common tephrosia”) from the Fabaceae or “legume” family of flowering plants, according to verse 4.71-74. Together with the names Kaṇṭālu and Kaṇṭapuṅkhā, there are a total of five Sanskrit synonyms identified for this plant.

Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.
Biology (plants and animals)
Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)1) Kantalu in India is the name of a plant defined with Acacia nilotica in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Mimosa scorpioides L. (among others).
2) Kantalu is also identified with Echinops echinatus.
3) Kantalu is also identified with Solanum melongena It has the synonym Solanum melongena Wall. (etc.).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Linnean Society of London (1837)
· Bulletin of the Botanical Survey of India (1969)
· Journal of Ethnopharmacology (1990)
· Field Museum of Natural History, Botanical Series (1962)
· FBI (1883)
· A General History of the Dichlamydeous Plants (1838)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Kantalu, for example extract dosage, health benefits, side effects, pregnancy safety, chemical composition, diet and recipes, have a look at these references.

This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryKaṇṭālu (कण्टालु).—f. Name of several plants:-वार्तकी, वंश, वर्वुर, बृहती (vārtakī, vaṃśa, varvura, bṛhatī).
Derivable forms: kaṇṭāluḥ (कण्टालुः).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Kaṇṭālu (कण्टालु):—[from kaṇṭa] m. Solanum Jacquini, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
2) [v.s. ...] another species of Solanum, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
3) [v.s. ...] a bamboo, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
[Sanskrit to German]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Full-text: Kantapunkha, Varttaki, Brihati, Kanta.
Relevant text
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