Table 1.

Current direct and indirect AMPK activators

Activator	Effect on AMPK	Mechanism
Metformin	indirect	Increase AMP/ATP by inhibition of complex 1 of mitochondrial respiratory chain
TZDs*	indirect	Increase PPARγ-mediated release of adiponectin, which consequently activates AMPK
Deguelin	indirect	Not fully clarified. Decrease of ATP
Epigallocatechin-3-gallate	indirect	Activation of the AMPK activator CaMKK**
Barberin	indirect	Increase AMP/ATP by inhibition of mitochondrial function
α-Lipoic acid	indirect	n.d.
Resveratrol	indirect	Not fully clarified. Possible activation of SIRT1*** and consequent deacetylation of the AMPK activator LKB1
AICAR ****	direct	AMP mimetic
A-769662	direct	Allosteric binding of β1 AMPK subunit
PT1	direct	Allosteric binding of α1 AMPK subunit

n.d.= not determined yet,

^*TZDs= thazolidinediones,

^**CAMKK= Calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase,

^***SIRT1= sirtuin 1,

^****AICAR= 5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-b-riboside.