Urolithin / AMPK Cancer Research Results

Uro, Urolithin: Click to Expand ⟱
Features:
Urolithins are gut microbiota–derived dibenzopyran-6-one metabolites formed from ellagitannins → ellagic acid. They are the bioactive, systemically relevant forms responsible for most of the anticancer, mitochondrial, and signaling effects attributed to pomegranate and berry consumption.
Ellagic acid itself is largely confined to the gut lumen; urolithins are what reach circulation and tissues.

Urolithin A (UA), Most studied; mitophagy, anticancer, anti-inflammatory
Humans fall into urolithin metabotypes:
Metabotype	Description	            Approx. Population
A	        Produces UA (best profile)	~40%
B	        Produces UB ± UA	       ~25–30%
0	        Non-producer	                ~30%

ROS Modulation (Context-Dependent)
Cancer cells:
-Mild ROS ↑ or redox stress → apoptosis, growth arrest
Normal cells:
-ROS ↓, improved mitochondrial efficiency

This duality is why urolithins are less chemo-antagonistic than classic antioxidants.

Anticancer Signaling
↓ PI3K/AKT/mTOR
↓ Wnt/β-catenin
↓ NF-κB, STAT3
Cell-cycle arrest (G1/S)

Unlike sulforaphane or NAC, urolithins:
-Do not strongly upregulate NRF2 in cancer cells
-May normalize NRF2 signaling in normal cells
Direct Urolithin A Supplements: Bypass microbiome dependency

Urolithin A–type activity — Cancer vs Normal Cell Effects
Rank Pathway / Axis Cancer Cells Normal Cells Label Primary Interpretation Notes
1 Mitophagy / mitochondrial quality control (PINK1–Parkin axis) ↑ mitophagy → loss of mitochondrial reserve ↑ mitophagy → improved mitochondrial fitness Driver Mitochondrial pruning and quality enforcement Urolithins selectively stress cancer cells by removing dysfunctional mitochondria while rejuvenating normal-cell mitochondrial pools
2 Mitochondrial metabolism / bioenergetics ↓ metabolic flexibility; ↓ ATP resilience ↑ oxidative efficiency Driver Energy stress vs optimization Cancer cells are less able to compensate for enforced mitochondrial turnover
3 Reactive oxygen species (ROS) ↑ ROS (secondary to mitochondrial stress) ↓ ROS Secondary Metabolism-linked redox shift ROS changes arise from altered mitochondrial populations, not direct redox cycling
4 AMPK / mTOR nutrient-sensing axis ↑ AMPK; ↓ mTOR signaling ↑ AMPK (adaptive) Secondary Catabolic pressure and growth restraint Energy-sensing pathways reinforce growth suppression in metabolically stressed tumor cells
5 Cell cycle regulation ↓ proliferation / ↑ arrest ↔ spared Phenotypic Cytostatic growth limitation Growth inhibition reflects bioenergetic insufficiency rather than direct CDK inhibition
6 Inflammatory signaling (NF-κB / cytokines) ↓ pro-tumor inflammation ↓ inflammatory tone Secondary Anti-inflammatory modulation Reduced inflammation contributes to chemopreventive and microenvironmental effects
7 NRF2 antioxidant response ↑ NRF2 (adaptive, secondary) ↑ NRF2 (protective) Adaptive Redox homeostasis reinforcement NRF2 activation reflects improved mitochondrial quality and reduced oxidative burden rather than a cytotoxic mechanism
8 Apoptosis sensitivity ↑ sensitivity to apoptosis (stress-context dependent) ↓ apoptosis Phenotypic Threshold-dependent cell death Apoptosis occurs when mitochondrial and energetic stress exceed adaptive capacity


AMPK, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase: Click to Expand ⟱
Source:
Type:
AMPK: guardian of metabolism and mitochondrial homeostasis; Upon changes in the ATP-to-AMP ratio, AMPK is activated. (AMPK) is a key metabolic sensor that is pivotal for the maintenance of cellular energy homeostasis. It is well documented that AMPK possesses a suppressor role in the context of tumor development and progression by modulating the inflammatory and metabolic pathways.

-Activating AMPK can inhibit anabolic processes and the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway reducing glycolysis shifting toward Oxidative Phosphorlylation.


AMPK activators:
-metformin or AICAR
-Resveratrol: activate AMPK indirectly
-Berberine
-Quercetin: may stimulate AMPK
-EGCG: thought to activate AMPK
-Curcumin: may activate AMPK

-Ginsenosides: Some ginsenosides have been associated with AMPK activation -Beta-Lapachone: A natural naphthoquinone compound found in the bark of Tabebuia avellanedae (also known as lapacho or taheebo). It has been observed to activate AMPK in certain models.
-Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA): associated with AMPK activation
Scientific Papers found: Click to Expand⟱
4870- Uro,    Urolithin A attenuates memory impairment and neuroinflammation in APP/PS1 mice
- in-vivo, AD, NA
*cognitive↑, *Apoptosis↓, *neuroP↑, *Aβ↓, *AMPK↑, *NF-kB↓, *MAPK↓, *BACE↑, *neuroG↑, *Inflam↓, *memory↑,
4862- Uro,    Neuroprotective effect of Urolithin A via downregulating VDAC1-mediated autophagy in Alzheimer's disease
- in-vivo, AD, NA - in-vitro, Nor, PC12
*cognitive↑, *p‑PI3K↓, *p‑Akt↓, *AMPK↑, *VDAC1↓, *neuroP↑, *PARK2↑, *PTEN↑, *LC3‑Ⅱ/LC3‑Ⅰ↑, *p62↓, *Aβ↓, *Apoptosis↓,
4864- Uro,    Therapeutic Potential of Mitophagy-Inducing Microflora Metabolite, Urolithin A for Alzheimer's Disease
- Review, AD, NA
*neuroP↑, *Half-Life↝, *BBB↑, *toxicity↓, *Inflam↓, *Strength↑, *BACE↓, *Aβ↓, *MitoP↑, *SIRT1↑, *SIRT3↑, *AMPK↑, *PGC-1α↑, *mTOR↓, *PARK2↑, *Beclin-1↑, *ROS↓, *GutMicro↑, *Risk↓,
4869- Uro,    Urolithin A in Central Nervous System Disorders: Therapeutic Applications and Challenges
- Review, AD, NA - Review, Park, NA - Review, Stroke, NA
*MitoP↑, *Inflam↓, *antiOx↑, *Risk↓, *Aβ↓, *p‑tau↓, *p62↓, *PARK2↑, *MMP↑, *ROS↓, *Strength↑, *CRP↓, *IL1β↓, *IL6↓, *TNF-α↓, *AMPK↑, *NF-kB↓, *MAPK↓, *p62↑, *NRF2↑, *SOD↑, *Catalase↑, *HO-1↑, *Ferroptosis↓, *lipid-P↓, *Cartilage↑, *PI3K↓, *Akt↓, *mTOR↓, *Apoptosis↓, *neuroP↑, *Bcl-2↓, *BAX↑, *Casp3↑, *ATP↑, *eff↑, *motorD↑, *NLRP3↓, *radioP↑, *BBB↑,

Showing Research Papers: 1 to 4 of 4

* indicates research on normal cells as opposed to diseased cells
Total Research Paper Matches: 4

Pathway results for Effect on Cancer / Diseased Cells:


Total Targets: 0

Pathway results for Effect on Normal Cells:


Redox & Oxidative Stress ⓘ

antiOx↑, 1,   Catalase↑, 1,   Ferroptosis↓, 1,   HO-1↑, 1,   lipid-P↓, 1,   NRF2↑, 1,   PARK2↑, 3,   ROS↓, 2,   SIRT3↑, 1,   SOD↑, 1,   VDAC1↓, 1,  

Mitochondria & Bioenergetics ⓘ

ATP↑, 1,   MMP↑, 1,   PGC-1α↑, 1,  

Core Metabolism/Glycolysis ⓘ

AMPK↑, 4,   SIRT1↑, 1,  

Cell Death ⓘ

Akt↓, 1,   p‑Akt↓, 1,   Apoptosis↓, 3,   BAX↑, 1,   Bcl-2↓, 1,   Casp3↑, 1,   Ferroptosis↓, 1,   MAPK↓, 2,  

Autophagy & Lysosomes ⓘ

Beclin-1↑, 1,   LC3‑Ⅱ/LC3‑Ⅰ↑, 1,   MitoP↑, 2,   p62↓, 2,   p62↑, 1,  

Proliferation, Differentiation & Cell State ⓘ

mTOR↓, 2,   neuroG↑, 1,   PI3K↓, 1,   p‑PI3K↓, 1,   PTEN↑, 1,  

Migration ⓘ

Cartilage↑, 1,  

Barriers & Transport ⓘ

BBB↑, 2,  

Immune & Inflammatory Signaling ⓘ

CRP↓, 1,   IL1β↓, 1,   IL6↓, 1,   Inflam↓, 3,   NF-kB↓, 2,   TNF-α↓, 1,  

Synaptic & Neurotransmission ⓘ

p‑tau↓, 1,  

Protein Aggregation ⓘ

Aβ↓, 4,   BACE↓, 1,   BACE↑, 1,   NLRP3↓, 1,  

Drug Metabolism & Resistance ⓘ

eff↑, 1,   Half-Life↝, 1,  

Clinical Biomarkers ⓘ

CRP↓, 1,   GutMicro↑, 1,   IL6↓, 1,  

Functional Outcomes ⓘ

cognitive↑, 2,   memory↑, 1,   motorD↑, 1,   neuroP↑, 4,   radioP↑, 1,   Risk↓, 2,   Strength↑, 2,   toxicity↓, 1,  
Total Targets: 60

Scientific Paper Hit Count for: AMPK, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase
4 Urolithin
Query results interpretion may depend on "conditions" listed in the research papers.
Such Conditions may include : 
  -low or high Dose
  -format for product, such as nano of lipid formations
  -different cell line effects
  -synergies with other products 
  -if effect was for normal or cancerous cells

Filter Conditions: Pro/AntiFlg:%  IllCat:%  CanType:%  Cells:%  prod#:383  Target#:9  State#:%  Dir#:2
  wNotes=0  sortOrder:rid,rpid

 

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