New Delhi, April 17: Maneka Gandhi has nudged the Union health ministry into raiding dairies suspected of raising milk yields by injecting buffaloes with a so-called "love potion".

Drug inspectors and police raided two north Delhi dairies on Wednesday and seized stocks of oxytocin, a natural hormone whose level in the blood spikes in response to infant suckling and facilitates the release of milk in humans too.

Oxytocin is known to enhance bonding between mothers and babies and between partners, the latter effect earning it the popular tag of "love potion" which scientists say is a misnomer that ignores the hormone's multiple psychological effects.

The hormone is used to induce labour in humans. Its use in milch animals is not encouraged because of the adverse effects it can have on their health.

But the raids were prompted by fears of possible harm to the human drinkers of the milk produced in these dairies.

Studies by the National Institute of Nutrition in Hyderabad have shown that the oxytocin present in milk is rapidly degraded in the intestines and is therefore unlikely to affect the drinker's health.

"But there are concerns that the oxytocin used by small dairy farmers is non-pharma-grade and could be contaminated with other materials (that could harm humans)," said Boindala Sesikeran, a senior scientist with the institute.

Oxytocin is typically extracted from the brain's pituitary glands in slaughterhouses. Health officials suspect that in the absence of high-quality pharmaceutical processing, the oxytocin may be contaminated with other biological materials.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the Indian Council of Medical Research have been concerned about the implications of human consumption of milk from animals that have received oxytocin injections.

"I have been speaking persistently to the health ministry over oxytocin, which sells under the names of tanatan, fatafat and some such names all over the country," Maneka told The Telegraph.

" They have been a cause of worry for me for a long time. I have been having meetings with concerned officials over this issue. I'm very happy that the health ministry has taken action."

Health officials say the dairies were administering oxytocin injections or suspensions - one of which is named Tan Tanatan Dudh Dhara - to the buffaloes.

"Oxytocin helps ease the process of manually extracting milk - the dairy operators can get more milk faster," Sesikeran said.

The drug inspectors seized 390 bottles of oxytocin injection and 160 bottles of Tan Tanatan Dudh Dhara from one dairy, and 58 bottles of oxytocin from the other.

"The regular use of this hormone (oxytocin) could have detrimental effects on the animals' reproductive system," said Sagari Ramdas, a Hyderabad-based veterinary scientist with the Food Sovereignty Alliance.

Maneka, a champion of animal rights, has written numerous letters to her cabinet colleagues to ensure the protection of animals since assuming her current office last year.

She recently wrote to defence minister Manohar Parrikar demanding an end to animal sacrifices in the Gorkha Regiment and the airdropping of live animals for regiments posted in inaccessible areas to provide them fresh meat.

Maneka had earlier written to transport minister Nitin Gadkari to stop the "smuggling of cattle for illegal slaughter".

One of her recommendations earlier this year to use cow urine to clean government offices has received positive responses. Delhi's Kendriya Bhandar cooperative stores, which supply housekeeping products to central government offices, have now been stocked with Gaunyle, a disinfectant made from cow urine.

Maneka had taken up the issue of oxytocin abuse in a letter to then health minister Harsh Vardhan last year, saying it reduced the animals' life expectancy.

It prompted the health ministry to ask state drug controllers for details of the manufacturers of oxytocin, seizures of any illegally produced stocks of the hormone, arrests and prosecutions. An inter-ministerial committee was formed in October to look into oxytocin misuse.

Maneka has also met current health minister J.P. Nadda more than once - the latest visit coming this week - to prod him on the matter. This week's raids, however, are apparently the first. They led to two arrests.

Maneka's love of cows is well known: the seven-time MP claims to have spent all her MPs' local area development funds to build gaushalas (cow shelters) in her constituencies.