Research Reveals Potential of Plant-Derived Rottlerin in Reducing Methane Emissions from Dairy Cows

A recent study published in the Journal of Dairy Science has found that a plant-derived polyphenol compound, rottlerin, can significantly reduce methane emissions from dairy cows through a novel mechanism targeting methyl-coenzyme M reductase (MCR). The research, conducted at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, discovered that rottlerin exhibited a high binding affinity with key residues in the catalytic site of MCR, which led to a reduction in methane production in a dose-dependent manner. The study highlights the potential of rottlerin as a naturally occurring, MCR-targeted feed additive for sustainable methane mitigation in dairy cows.

Key Takeaways:

• Rottlerin, a plant-derived polyphenol compound, has been found to inhibit methane production in dairy cow rumen fermentation through targeting methyl-coenzyme M reductase (MCR).
• Molecular docking and virtual screening revealed that rottlerin exhibited a high binding affinity with key residues in the catalytic site of MCR.
• In vitro rumen fermentation showed that rottlerin significantly reduced methane production (up to 32.4%) while maintaining stable pH, dry matter digestibility, and VFA concentration.
• Microbial community analysis revealed a reduction in the relative abundance of Methanobrevibacter, a dominant hydrogenotrophic methanogen, and a simultaneous increase in Candidatus_Methanomethylophilus.
• The research concluded that rottlerin has the potential to be used as a naturally occurring, MCR-targeted feed additive for sustainable methane mitigation in dairy cows.
• The study was funded by the Integrated Demonstration of Scalable and Efficient Healthy Breeding for Cattle and Sheep and the Instant Intelligent Diagnosis and Risk Warning Methods for Nutritional and Metabolic-Type Periparturient Cow Paralysis.
• The publication of this research was conducted in collaboration with the Elsevier Science Inc publishing house.

Statistics:

• Up to 32.4% reduction in methane production from dairy cow rumen fermentation.
• High binding affinity of rottlerin with key residues in the catalytic site of MCR (-8.300 kcal/mol).
• Significant reduction in the relative abundance of Methanobrevibacter (dominant hydrogenotrophic methanogen).
• Simultaneous increase in Candidatus_Methanomethylophilus.
• In vitro rumen fermentation maintained stable pH, dry matter digestibility, and VFA concentration.

Sources:

• Molecular Docking and In Vitro Fermentation Reveal Plant-derived Rottlerin Targeting Methyl-coenzyme M Reductase To Reduce Enteric Methane Emissions From Dairy Cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 2025;108(9).
• Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
• Integrated Demonstration of Scalable and Efficient Healthy Breeding for Cattle and Sheep.
• Instant Intelligent Diagnosis and Risk Warning Methods for Nutritional and Metabolic-Type Periparturient Cow Paralysis.
• Elsevier Science Inc.