Human beings have always made use of their native flora, not just as a source of nutrition, but also for fuel, medicines, clothing, dwelling, and chemical production. Traditional knowledge of plants and their properties has always been transmitted from generation to generation through the natural course of everyday life [1]. Documentation of the indigenous knowledge through ethnobotanical studies is important for the conservation and utilization of biological resources [2]. Therefore, establishment of the local names and indigenous uses of plants has significant potential societal benefits [3]. In recent years, traditional use of plants for medical purposes has drawn the attention of researchers in our country as well [4-9]. World over tribal population still store a vast knowledge of using local plants as food material and other specific uses [10]. An Ethnobotanical field study reveals that the ethnic people have considerable traditional knowledge of wild-type plants and their utilization. The literacy percentage among between total people, tribal only 0.4% is found. They live in group comprising 8-10 families scattered over a wide range in terai region. The Tharu tribal inhabiting widely separated namlets in the terai region were studied for the first time for collection of ethnobotanical data. They follow Hinduism however there are quite a handful of them who have taken up other religions like Islam, Animism. It is a recent phenomenon that quite a few number of Tharu tribes have got influenced by the preaching of Buddhism as well as by Christianity. Each and every village of Tharu community has got their indigenous deities like Bhuinyar and Gor-raja. The vegetation growing in these forests plays a vital role in the life and health care of the tribes.

The Dudhwa National Park lies in the sub-Himalayan region referred to as the Terai belt. The Park is tucked between India and Nepal in the Lakhimpur-kheri District of the Indian State of Uttar Pradesh, is located between 27° 41’ and 28° 42’ N latitudes and 80° 2’ and 81° 19’ E longitudes. Dudhwa is the last remnant of Terai region, one of the most endangered ecosystems on the planet.The field tour was undertaken during March 2012-March 2013 covering different areas in the remote tribal populated areas. Plants of ethno-economic importance were recorded from knowledgeable local people, especially the village leaders, Baidyas and Hakims who accompanied the authors in the field. The information obtained was cross-checked with other persons. Some plants were already known, but the modes of their uses are different and quite interesting. It was confirmed with the available literature [11-14]. The voucher specimens were collected, processed and have been deposited in the ethnobotanical herbarium, NBRI Lucknow. The scientific names, vernacular name, phenology, chemistry and their mode of utilization are also given.

The present investigations have recorded 21 aromatic medicinal plant species used by tribal and rural communities in north eastern part of Lakhimpur-Kheri District. Our study shows that many Gaudi- Funta households living close to the Dudhwa National Park harvest date and that it is a relatively profitable activity. The Ethnomedicinal data presented herein are only one major head namely; ethnomedicinal species used by tribal peoplefor various purposes Table 1.

Table 1: Ethnomedicinal plant species used by tribal people for various purposes.

Medicinal plants are common and medicinally important to treat various diseases. The local people of Gauri-funta preferred preparing the medicines by plants either as single or as in a combination with two or several plants and plant parts, since the combination rapidly cures the diseases and also enhance the immunity power of the patients. For example Extract of Cordia dichotoma leaves is used to cure cough but is also used in hair oil. While Equal amount Tamarandus indica and Ficus racemosa stem bark powder mix in coconut oil and applied on just burned skin with help of feathers of hen. This is constant with the other general observation which has been reported earlier in relation to medicinal plant studies by the Indian Traditional System of Medicine like Siddha and Ayurveda (Kirtikar and Basu; Asolkar et al.,) [32,22]. The ethanol extract of Dillenia Pentagyna showed the most potent antitumor activity, i.e. % ILS ~ 55% and % ILS ~ 48% at a dose of 50 and 100 mg/kg/day [32]. Different plant parts of these species, such as, root, leaf, fruit, bark and seed were used as medicine.

Nowadays, data on restricted population and scarce distribution the species like Achyranthes aspera, Aegle marmelos, Andrographis paniculata, Cordia dichotoma, Carissa opaca, Ziziphus xylopyrus, Tamarindus indica and Dillenia pentagynawere observed locally threatened in the area need both, in-situ and ex-situ conservation and urgent protection for sustainable utilization.

The species like Cordia dichotoma, Dillenia pentagyna, Ficus racemosa, Tamarindus indica, Solanum surattense, Scopariadulics, Achyranthes aspera, Boerrahavia diffusa, Achyranthes aspera and Aegle marmelos were observed as most important medicinal values. Cultivation is often proposed as an alternative to wild harvesting to reduce pressure on tribe populations and improve local livelihood. Of these maximum numbers of plants belong to the family Moraceae and Rhamnaceae, which shows a significant ethnobotanical diversity in different regions of north eastern part of Lakhimpur-kheri District.

The authors are especially grateful to the Uttar Pradesh State Biodiversity Board for financial support, and National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR). A lot of thanks to village leaders, survey respondents and key informants, Dudhwa National Park in Lakhimpur-kheri