AICAR Research Reference

Catalog classification, reference sizes, lab math links, and source-backed data. Educational use only — not medical advice.

Researched for: AMPK signaling and metabolic adaptation

Metabolic Research compound LyophilizedPowderLiquid verified

Also known as: Acadesine, AICA riboside

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Quick Facts

Reference Sizes

50 mg, 100 mg, 1 g

Storage

Supplier specifications commonly use -20 deg C for solid material; solution stability is formulation-specific and should follow the study protocol

Solubility

Freely water-soluble (>=52.9 mg/mL); also soluble in DMSO (>=12.9 mg/mL); use fresh solutions

Catalog Description

AICAR (5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside, acadesine) is phosphorylated intracellularly to ZMP, an AMP-mimetic that allosterically activates AMPK, driving insulin-independent glucose uptake, increased fatty-acid oxidation, suppressed hepatic gluconeogenesis/lipogenesis, and mTORC1 inhibition. A landmark 2008 Cell study (Narkar, Downes et al.) found AICAR alone increased running endurance by 44% in sedentary mice via AMPK-PPARdelta pathway activation - the widely cited 'exercise mimetic' finding - but no equivalent human performance data exists. Acadesine's most extensive human clinical data comes from a different context: cardiovascular protection during/after cardiac surgery, studied in Phase 3 trials in the 1990s (meta-analysis of 5 international RCTs, 4,043 patients) and Phase I/II oncology trials in the 2000s; none resulted in regulatory approval for any indication.

Catalog descriptions reflect research context only. Not a medical claim or treatment recommendation.

Research Profile

Half-Life

Short and route-dependent; published human studies do not support one universal half-life value

Onset

Endurance effects reported in mouse studies over the study duration; human trials assessed cardiac-protection endpoints acutely (surgical setting)

Administration Routes (Research)

IV (human studies)IP (animal studies)In vitro

Reported Research Effects

AMPK activation via ZMP (AMP-mimetic)
44% increased running endurance in mice (2008 Cell study) - no human performance data exists
Extensive human cardiac-surgery-protection trial history (4,043 patients across 5 RCTs) without resulting approval

Reported Research Side Effects

Human safety data comes primarily from cardiac-surgery and oncology trial contexts, not exercise/performance use
GI upset reported in some trial contexts

Data source: Narkar/Downes 2008 (Cell); cardiac-surgery RCT meta-analysis; oncology Phase I/II trials

Reflects preclinical/research literature context only. Not a medical claim, dosing instruction, or treatment recommendation.

Research Protocols Reported in the Literature

100 uM-1 mM [In vitro; 1-24 hours; Continuous exposure]Source: published cell-culture AMPK research
500-1000 mg/kg [IP; Study-dependent; Study-dependent]Source: published mouse metabolic studies

Research Notes

Also sold as liquid solution by some vendors in addition to lyophilized/bulk powder. Liquid typically sold in 30 mL bottles.

Supplementary research context only. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation.

Sources

AMPK and PPAR-delta agonists are exercise mimetics — Cell
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2008.06.051

AICAr, a Widely Used AMPK Activator with Important AMPK-Independent Effects: A Systematic Review — Cells (MDPI)
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/10/5/1095

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Research Use Only. All content is for educational and research reference only. Not medical advice, a treatment recommendation, or guidance on human use. Compounds are not FDA-approved drugs unless specifically noted.