AICAR
AICAR is a research peptide in the AMPK Activator class. AICAR is taken into cells and phosphorylated to ZMP, an AMP mimetic that binds the gamma subunit of AMP-activated protein kinase and activates it without changing cellular AMP:ATP ratios. AMPK activation shifts metabolism toward catabolic, ATP-generating pathways โ increased fatty acid oxidation and glucose uptake, decreased lipogenesis.
For research use only.
Key Facts
- CAS
- 3031-94-5
- Molecular Weight (MW)
- 338.21 g/mol
- Half-life
- โ
- FDA status
- Not Approved
- Evidence level
- Insufficient Evidence
- Human dose established
- No
- Administration Route
- Not established in humans
- Frequency
- Not established in humans
- Last updated
- Sep 6, 2026
- Reviewed
- Aug 30, 2026
Vendor price snapshot
Each vendor counts once, at the median price per mg of its own listings; the typical range is the middle half of vendors. From public vendor listings collected in Oct 2026, so confirm the live price on the vendor site. Peptide Library does not sell peptides.
- Vendors listing this peptide
- 6
- Listed offers
- 7
- Median price per mg
- $1.00/mg
- Typical $0.850โ$1.14/mg
Research summary
Adenosine analog studied as an AMP-activated protein kinase activator in metabolic and exercise-physiology research. Not FDA-approved. It is prohibited in sport under the WADA gene and metabolic modulators category.
Peptide Library's AICAR profile summarises 5 cited studies listed in the Science section, the compound's regulatory status, and research-protocol parameters reported for it. It is a research reference, not medical advice.
AICAR dosage: no established human dose
AICAR has no established human dosage for the endurance and metabolic uses it is sold for. Two small interventional studies are registered โ one a phase 2 pilot that enrolled two participants โ and neither has posted results or a disclosed dose. Most published human work measures AICAR as an endogenous metabolite or studies exercise rather than administering the compound.
No established human dosage.
Human clinical evidence: None identified.
Preclinical research: AICAR is an AMP-activated protein kinase activator and a naturally occurring intermediate in purine synthesis. Its reputation rests largely on rodent work reporting improved endurance without training. Human research is dominated by studies that measure endogenous AICAR or use it as a tool compound on isolated tissue, not by trials that administer it systemically at a stated dose.
Animal dosing is not converted into a human dose anywhere on this page. Where research figures appear below, they are reported as studied, not recommended.
| Human dosing established | No |
|---|---|
| Route | Not established in humans |
| Evidence level | Insufficient Evidence |
| Last reviewed | 2026-09-05 |
Human research reported
Doses as studied, one row per regimen. Different trials used different regimens; they are listed separately rather than averaged.
| Study / context | Population | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Outcome studied | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCT00004314 โ phase 2 pilot, completed, no resultsClinical trial ยท Phase 2 pilot study, no results posted | Participants enrolled: 2 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | โ | โ | Pilot evaluation of aminoimidazole carboxamide riboside | NCT00004314 โ Phase II Pilot Study of Aminoimidazole Carboxamide Riboside (AICAR) |
| NCT00168519 โ glucose uptake study, completed, no resultsClinical trial ยท Interventional study, no results posted | Adults (n=40) | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | โ | โ | Contraction-mediated glucose uptake as a therapeutic target | NCT00168519 โ Contraction (Exercise) Mediated Glucose Uptake as a Therapeutic Target |
| Observational โ urinary AICAR as an endogenous metaboliteResearch-reported ยท Observational human study | Patients, endogenous levels measured | None administered | Not applicable | โ | โ | Urinary AICAR levels | Urine levels of 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide riboside (AICAR) in patients. Acta Diabetol. 2018. |
Preclinical and analog research
Not human dosing evidence. Listed for completeness and never extrapolated to a human dose.
| Study / context | Population | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Outcome studied | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preclinical / ex vivo โ autophagy in human skeletal musclePreclinical ยท Mechanistic study | Human skeletal muscle, exercise and AICAR exposure | Tissue-level exposure; not a systemic human dose | Ex vivo | โ | โ | Regulation of autophagy | Regulation of autophagy in human skeletal muscle: effects of exercise, exercise training and insulin stimulation. J Physiol. 2016. |
Where sources disagree
- Protocols in the range of 50โ100 mg daily are commonly published for AICAR. Neither registered trial discloses a dose and neither has posted results, so no primary source for those figures could be identified.
- AICAR is on the World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited list as a metabolic modulator. Its presence there reflects regulatory concern about performance use, not evidence that a safe or effective human dose has been established.
- Rodent endurance findings are frequently cited as if they were human results. They are not, and rodent dosing is not converted into a human dose here.
Reconstitution
Common research vial sizes: 50 mg.
| Vial | Bacteriostatic water | Concentration | Per 0.01 mL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 mg | 2 mL | 25 mg/mL | 250 mcg per 0.01 mL |
These figures are arithmetic only โ they convert a vial and a volume into a concentration. They are not a recommendation to take any dose.
Calculate reconstitution & dose โSequence & molecular data
| Molecular formula | C9H15N4O8P |
|---|---|
| Molecular weight | 338.21 g/mol |
| CAS number | 3031-94-5 |
| PubChem CID | 65110 |
| FDA UNII | F0X88YW0YK |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL483849 |
| DrugBank | DB01700 |
Identifiers link to the public PubChem, FDA Substance Registration (UNII), ChEMBL and DrugBank records for the same entity.
Science
Mechanism of Action
AICAR is taken into cells and phosphorylated to ZMP, an AMP mimetic that binds the gamma subunit of AMP-activated protein kinase and activates it without changing cellular AMP:ATP ratios. AMPK activation shifts metabolism toward catabolic, ATP-generating pathways โ increased fatty acid oxidation and glucose uptake, decreased lipogenesis. Its reported effects on endurance capacity in rodents are what led to its prohibition in competition.
Studies
- AICA-riboside (acadesine), an activator of AMP-activated protein kinase with potential for application in hematologic malignancies
- Acadesine, an adenosine-regulating agent with the potential for widespread indications
- Acadesine alleviates acute pancreatitis-related lung injury by mediating the barrier protective function of pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells
- Acadesine suppresses TNF-ฮฑ induced complement component 3 (C3), in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells
- Acadesine: preclinical overview
Regulatory & research status
AICAR is not an FDA-approved product. It is sold for laboratory research and has no approved medical use.
| FDA status | Not Approved |
|---|---|
| Research status | Research-only compound; no approval pathway listed |
| Availability | Research-Only |
| WADA (sport) | Unknown / Not Listed |
| Library classification | Research-Only |
Benefits
โ
AICAR side effects
No side effects listed yet for this entry.
Storage & stability
Lyophilized (freeze-dried) peptide powder is far more stable than the reconstituted solution. Keep sealed vials cold, dry and away from light; long-term storage is typically frozen, with short-term refrigeration for vials in use.
Once reconstituted in bacteriostatic water, keep the solution refrigerated, avoid repeated freezeโthaw cycles and agitation, and label the vial with the reconstitution date and concentration. Discard any solution that turns cloudy or shows particulates.
Degradation rates differ by sequence: peptides containing methionine, cysteine, asparagine or glutamine are more prone to oxidation and deamidation, so shelf life after reconstitution is compound-specific rather than universal.
Read the full guide: how to store peptides before and after reconstitution โ
Source: Manning MC, Chou DK, Murphy BM, Payne RW, Katayama DS. Stability of protein pharmaceuticals: an update. Pharm Res. 2010;27(4):544โ575. (PMID 20143256). General guidance for research handling; not product-specific instructions.
AICAR: frequently asked questions
What is AICAR?
Adenosine analog studied as an AMP-activated protein kinase activator in metabolic and exercise-physiology research. Not FDA-approved. It is prohibited in sport under the WADA gene and metabolic modulators category.
How does AICAR work?
AICAR is taken into cells and phosphorylated to ZMP, an AMP mimetic that binds the gamma subunit of AMP-activated protein kinase and activates it without changing cellular AMP:ATP ratios. AMPK activation shifts metabolism toward catabolic, ATP-generating pathways โ increased fatty acid oxidation and glucose uptake, decreased lipogenesis.
Is AICAR FDA approved?
No. AICAR is not approved by the FDA for any indication and is categorised as research-only. It has not been reviewed for safety or efficacy as a medicine, and published research should be read as investigation rather than established use.
What peptides are similar to AICAR?
Compounds most often compared with AICAR include 5-Amino-1MQ, SLU-PP-332, BAM15 and Tesofensine. They are grouped by shared mechanism or research area rather than by equivalence, and their regulatory status and evidence base differ.
References
- AICA-riboside (acadesine), an activator of AMP-activated protein kinase with potential for application in hematologic malignancies โ Expert Opin Investig Drugs, 2010External reference
- Acadesine, an adenosine-regulating agent with the potential for widespread indications โ Expert Opin Pharmacother, 2008External reference
- Acadesine alleviates acute pancreatitis-related lung injury by mediating the barrier protective function of pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells โ Int Immunopharmacol, 2022External reference
- Acadesine suppresses TNF-ฮฑ induced complement component 3 (C3), in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells โ PLoS One, 2020External reference
- Acadesine: preclinical overview โ Adv Exp Med Biol, 1994External reference
Related research, comparisons & guides
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Compiled by Peptide Library Editorial ยท Reviewed Aug 30, 2026 ยท Updated Sep 6, 2026 ยท Version 2
This AICAR profile is compiled from published literature (5 cited studies linked above), public regulatory records and chemical registries. It describes what research reports; it is not medical advice, and nothing here is a dosing recommendation for humans. Peptide Library does not sell peptides. Editorial policy ยท How profiles are compiled ยท Report an error
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