Katphala, Kaṭphala, Katphalā, Kaṭphalā: 14 definitions
Introduction:
Katphala 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)
Cikitsa (natural therapy and treatment for medical conditions)
Source: Wisdom Library: Ayurveda: Cikitsa1) Kaṭphala (कट्फल) is a Sanskrit word referring to “bayberry tree”, a small tree from the Myricaceae family of shrubs and trees, and is used throughout Ayurvedic literature such as the Caraka-saṃhitā. It can aslo be spelled as Katphalā (कत्फला). The official botanical name is Myrica nagi and is commonly known in English as “Box myrtle” or “Kafal” among others.
According to the Mādhavacikitsā (7th-century Ayurvedic work), this plant (kaṭphala) is mentioned as a medicine used for the treatment of all major fevers (jvara), as described in the Jvaracikitsā (or “the treatment of fever”) chapter.
2) Kaṭphalā (कट्फला) 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.
Nighantu (Synonyms and Characteristics of Drugs and technical terms)
Source: WorldCat: Rāj nighaṇṭu1) Kaṭphalā (कट्फला) is another name for Jīmūtaka, a medicinal plant identified with Luffa echinata (bitter sponge gourd or bitter luffa) from the Cucurbitaceae or “gourd family” of flowering plants, according to verse 3.58-60 of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu. The third chapter (guḍūcyādi-varga) of this book contains climbers and creepers (vīrudh). Together with the names Kaṭphalā and Jīmūtaka, there are a total of nineteen Sanskrit synonyms identified for this plant.
2) Kaṭphalā (कट्फला) is also mentioned as a synonym 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. The fourth chapter (śatāhvādi-varga) of this book enumerates eighty varieties of small plants (pṛthu-kṣupa). Together with the names Kaṭphalā and Bṛhatī, there are a total of seven Sanskrit synonyms identified for this plant.
3) Kaṭphalā (कट्फला) is also mentioned as a synonym for Kākamācī, a medicinal plant identified with Solanum nigrum Linn. (or ‘black nightshade’) from the Solanaceae or “nightshades” family of flowering plants, according to verse 4.133-135. Together with the names Kaṭphalā and Kākamācī, there are a total of eighteen Sanskrit synonyms identified for this plant.
Kalpa (Formulas, Drug prescriptions and other Medicinal preparations)
Source: Shodhganga: Edition translation and critical study of yogasarasamgrahaKaṭphala (कट्फल) refers to the medicinal plant known as “Myrica nagi Thunb.” and is dealt with in the 15th-century Yogasārasaṅgraha (Yogasara-saṅgraha) by Vāsudeva: an unpublished Keralite work representing an Ayurvedic compendium of medicinal recipes. The Yogasārasaṃgraha [mentioning kaṭphala] deals with entire recipes in the route of administration, and thus deals with the knowledge of pharmacy (bhaiṣajya-kalpanā) which is a branch of pharmacology (dravyaguṇa).
Unclassified Ayurveda definitions
Source: Google Books: Essentials of AyurvedaKaṭphala (कट्फल).—The Sanskrit name for an important Ayurvedic drug.—Kaṭphala is astringent, bitter, pungent, hot and pacifies kapha and vāta. The use of the bark as snuff is prescribed in disease of head and nose.

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: Wisdom Library: Local Names of Plants and DrugsKatphala in the Sanskrit language is the name of a plant identified with Myrica esculenta Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don from the Myricaceae (Bayberry) family having the following synonyms: Myrica sapida. For the possible medicinal usage of katphala, you can check this page for potential sources and references, although be aware that any some or none of the side-effects may not be mentioned here, wether they be harmful or beneficial to health.
Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)Katphala in India is the name of a plant defined with Solanum melongena in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Solanum insanum L. (among others).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Numer. List (2628)
· Cytologia (1986)
· Repertorium Specierum Novarum Regni Vegetabilis (1923)
· Histoire Naturelle, Médicale et Économique des Solanum (1813)
· Proceedings of the Indian Science Congress Association (1986)
· Feddes Repertorium (1988)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Katphala, for example extract dosage, chemical composition, diet and recipes, side effects, health benefits, pregnancy safety, 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 dictionaryKaṭphala (कट्फल).—Name of a tree, commonly called कायफळ (kāyaphaḷa).
Derivable forms: kaṭphalaḥ (कट्फलः).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryKaṭphala (कट्फल).—m.
(-laḥ) A small tree found in the north-west of Hindustan, the bark and seeds of which are used in medicine, and as aromatics; the fruit also is eaten; the common name is Kayaphala. f.
(-lā) 1. A plant, (Gmelina arborea, Rox.) 2. The egg plant, &c. E. kaṭa instead of kaṭu acrid, and phala fruit, fem. affix ṭāp.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryKaṭphala (कट्फल).—[masculine] names of trees.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Kaṭphala (कट्फल):—[=kaṭ-phala] [from kaṭ] a m. (for kaṭu-phala, but different in meaning from it), Name of a small tree (found in the north-west of Hindūstān, the aromatic bark and seeds of which are used in medicine; the fruit is eaten; the common name is Kāyaphal), [Suśruta]
2) Kaṭphalā (कट्फला):—[=kaṭ-phalā] [from kaṭ-phala > kaṭ] f. Name of several plants.
3) Kaṭphala (कट्फल):—[=kaṭ-phala] b See above.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryKaṭphala (कट्फल):—[kaṭ-phala] (laḥ) 1. m. A small aromatic tree. f. A plant (Gmelina arborea); the egg plant.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Kaṭphala (कट्फल) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Kapphala.
[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 (+21): Kaphala, Kumudika, Laghukashmarya, Troti, Bhadravati, Sphigghataka, Aranya, Nasalu, Ranjanaka, Somavriksha, Parushakadi, Kambhari, Somavalka, Rodhradi, Kumbhipaki, Kapphala, Kaidarya, Shriparnika, Mahakumbhi, Parpatadruma.
Relevant text
Search found 27 books and stories containing Katphala, Kat-phala, Kaṭ-phala, Kaṭ-phalā, Kaṭphala, Katphalā, Kaṭphalā; (plurals include: Katphalas, phalas, phalās, Kaṭphalas, Katphalās, Kaṭphalās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Amarakoshodghatana of Kshirasvamin (study) (by A. Yamuna Devi)
Sushruta Samhita, volume 1: Sutrasthana (by Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna)
World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research
Pharmacognostic study of katphala < [2023: Volume 12, September special issue 16]
Lodhradi kashaya as a potent antidiabetic agent < [2022: Volume 11, March issue 3]
Review article kashmari - a review < [2022: Volume 11, May issue 5]
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 3.266 < [Section XXI - Relative Merits of the Offering-Materials]
International Ayurvedic Medical Journal
A study on medicinal value of katphala (sohphie - local khasi name) commonly practiced by khasi traditional healer for various ailments: a review with ayurvedic perspectives < [2020, Issue 10, October]
Clinical study on post operative pain management with vedana sthapaka kashaya in arshas < [2019, Issue 11, November]
Sandhaniya mahakashaya: an overview on pharmacological study < [2023, Issue 08. August]
Atharvaveda and Charaka Samhita (by Laxmi Maji)
Classification of Drugs in the Caraka-Saṃhitā < [Chapter 4 - Diseases and Remedial measures (described in Caraka-saṃhitā)]
4b. Leprosy (Kuṣṭha) in the Caraka-saṃhitā < [Chapter 5 - Diseases and Remedies in Atharvaveda and Caraka-Saṃhitā]
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