This is a working overview of Cardarine, written for readers who want more than a one-paragraph summary but less than a textbook.
Reviewed 2026-06-29. Anything still debated is marked as such rather than presented as settled.
Cardarine is a common name for GW501516, a synthetic compound studied for its effects on lipid and glucose metabolism. It functions as an agonist at peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta, or PPARδ, a nuclear receptor that influences gene expression. The molecule is not a steroid, nor is it a selective androgen receptor modulator. It is also known in research and sports literature as GW-501516 and endurobol. Early laboratory work examined its metabolic activity in cell cultures and animal models.
Activation of PPARδ changes transcription of genes involved in fatty acid transport, mitochondrial function, and skeletal muscle fuel preference. In rodent studies, pharmacological PPARδ activation was associated with increased endurance and altered body composition. These findings generated interest in performance enhancement, but species differences and study designs limit direct extrapolation to humans. Small human trials were conducted in the 2000s and later discontinued. The extent to which cardarine produces similar metabolic or performance effects in people remains an open question.
Cardarine is a common name for GW501516, also GW-1516, a synthetic compound developed as a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta (PPARδ) agonist. It belongs to a class of agents that modulate gene transcription related to lipid and energy metabolism. The compound was studied in preclinical and early clinical research for metabolic and cardiovascular conditions, but it did not progress to approved therapeutic use. Its name appears in fitness and sports contexts despite not being approved as a drug.
PPARδ is a nuclear receptor that influences transcription of genes involved in fatty acid oxidation, lipid transport, and energy homeostasis. GW501516 binds and activates this receptor with high selectivity relative to PPARα and PPARγ in laboratory assays. Activation alters expression of target genes in skeletal muscle, liver, and adipose tissue in animal models. The exact clinical consequences of these changes in humans remain incompletely characterized, and observed effects in animals do not establish therapeutic benefit or safety.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical class | Synthetic PPARδ agonist | Not a steroid or a selective androgen receptor modulator. |
| Common synonyms | Cardarine, GW501516, GW-501516, endurobol | Names vary by supplier and literature source. |
| Appearance | White to off-white powder | Consistent with many small-molecule research chemicals. |
| Solubility | Low in water; soluble in DMSO and ethanol | Often prepared in organic solvent for laboratory work. |
| Primary target | PPARδ (NR1C2) | Nuclear receptor involved in lipid and energy metabolism. |
Safety concerns emerged from long-term animal studies. In rodents given the compound for extended periods, researchers found an increased incidence of certain cancers, including liver and bladder tumors. These findings contributed to the discontinuation of clinical development. Whether similar risks apply to short-term or low-level exposure in humans is not established, and controlled human safety data are limited. The relevance of high-dose rodent carcinogenicity findings to human use remains a subject of debate.
Human trials of GW501516 were small and short in duration. They examined lipid levels, glucose handling, and other metabolic markers, but the programs were halted after the animal cancer findings. No approved therapeutic product exists, and published human data are insufficient for establishing long-term safety. Reports of use for athletic performance come mainly from non-clinical settings and cannot be verified through controlled trials. Independent testing of products sold as cardarine has found inconsistent purity and labeling.
Anti-doping laboratories identify GW501516 and its metabolites using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Urine is the usual matrix, and detection can occur after the parent compound has cleared from blood. The exact detection window depends on dose, formulation, individual metabolism, and assay sensitivity. Because the compound is prohibited at all times, athletes are subject to testing in and out of competition. Analytical methods continue to improve as new metabolites and designer analogs are characterized.
GW501516 acts as a ligand for PPAR delta, a nuclear receptor that regulates transcription of genes involved in fatty acid oxidation and energy use. Activation of this receptor in skeletal muscle shifts metabolism toward fat burning in animal models. The compound does not burn fat directly; it changes gene expression over hours to days. Researchers study it to understand metabolic flexibility and exercise adaptation. Effects observed in rodents are not automatically expected in humans.
Preclinical research reported that GW501516 increased running endurance in mice and improved lipid profiles in some animal species. Early human trials explored effects on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose handling, but the program was discontinued. Published human data are sparse and do not establish efficacy for any condition. Studies also examined PPAR delta in cancer biology, with conflicting findings across models. The relationship between receptor activation, tissue context, and disease risk remains an active area of investigation.
== Drug interaction == Pioglitazone/metformin may interact with furosemide, nifedipine, cationic drugs (e.g., amiloride, digoxin, morphine, procainamide, quinidine, quinine, ranitidine, triamterene, trimethoprim, and vancomycin) and certain drugs tend to produce hyperglycemia and may lead to loss of glycemic control (e.g., thiazides and other diuretics, corticosteroids, phenothiazines, thyroid products, estrogens, oral contraceptives, phenytoin, nicotinic acid, sympathomimetics, calcium channel blocking drugs, and isoniazid).
The movement has also recruited and allied with Sunni Muslims; according to researcher Ahmed Nagi, several themes of the Houthi ideology "such as Muslim unity, prophetic lineages, and opposition to corruption [...] allowed the Houthis to mobilize not only northern Zaydis, but also inhabitants of predominantly Shafi'i areas." However, the group is known to have discriminated against Sunni Muslims as well, closing Sunni mosques and primarily placing Zaydis in leadership positions in Houthi-controlled areas. The Houthis lost significant support among Sunni tribes after killing ex-President Saleh. Many Zaydis also oppose the Houthis, regarding them as Iranian proxies and the Houthis' form of Zaydi revivalism as an attempt to "establish Shiite rule in the north of Yemen". In addition, Haykel argued that the Houthis follow "a highly politicised, revolutionary, and intentionally simplistic, even primitivist interpretation of [Zaydism]'s teachings". Their view of Islam is largely based on the teachings of Hussein al-Houthi, collected after his death in a book titled Malazim (Fascicles), a work treated by Houthis as more important than older Zaydi theological traditions, resulting in repeated disputes with established Zaydi religious leaders. The Malazim reflects a number of different religious and ideological influences, including Khomeinism and revolutionary Sunni Islamist movements such as the Muslim Brotherhood.
α granules (alpha granules) — containing P-selectin, platelet factor 4, transforming growth factor-β1, platelet-derived growth factor, fibronectin, B-thromboglobulin, vWF, fibrinogen, and coagulation factors V and XIII δ granules (delta or dense granules) — containing ADP or ATP, calcium, and serotonin γ granules (gamma granules) — similar to lysosomes and contain several hydrolytic enzymes λ granules (lambda granules) — contents involved in resorption during later stages of vessel repair
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
A: Border cell migration in a Drosophila embryo. (a) shows border cells migrating in a confined space surrounded by gigantic nurse cells. B: The initial position of zebrafish posterior lateral line primordia (pLLP) cells. (b) is a sagittal section showing how these cells migrate in a confined space between the somatic mesoderm and epidermis. C: The cephalic neural crest of the clawed frog Xenopus migrating in well-defined streams from dorsal to ventral and anterior. (c) is a transverse section across the head of a Xenopus embryo showing the high degree of confinement experienced by the neural crest while migrating sandwiched between the epidermis and underlying head mesoderm.
== External links == The Spy Who Came In from the Cold at IMDb The Spy Who Came In from the Cold at the TCM Movie Database (archived) The Spy Who Came In from the Cold at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films The Movie Scene review Archived 25 January 2021 at the Wayback Machine The Spy Who Came In from the Cold: True Ritt an essay by Michael Sragow at the Criterion Collection
== Characteristics == Various types of kōji are used, including yellow, black, and white. The kōji is stored for two to three days at 30°C under high humidity to allow A. oryzae to grow. In this process, the starch from cereals such as wheat, buckwheat or barley as well as from sweet potato is split into glucose, creating a sweet taste. The amino acids glutamic acid and to a lesser extent also aspartic acid split off from the proteins during fermentation, resulting in a strong umami taste. Depending on the Aspergillus used, culture substrate and culture conditions (temperature, pH value, salt content, humidity), different products are created in terms of composition, flavour and odour. Kōji can be freeze-dried and crushed to produce spores. Dried kōji-spores can be stored and transported light-protected at room temperature.
EC 2.4.2.24: 1,4-β-D-xylan synthase EC 2.4.2.25: flavone apiosyltransferase EC 2.4.2.26: protein xylosyltransferase EC 2.4.2.27: dTDP-dihydrostreptose—streptidine-6-phosphate dihydrostreptosyltransferase EC 2.4.2.28: S-methyl-5′-thioadenosine phosphorylase EC 2.4.2.29: tRNA-guanosine34 preQ1 transglycosylase EC 2.4.2.30: NAD+ ADP-ribosyltransferase EC 2.4.2.31: NAD+—protein-arginine ADP-ribosyltransferase EC 2.4.2.32: dolichyl-phosphate D-xylosyltransferase EC 2.4.2.33: dolichyl-xylosyl-phosphate—protein xylosyltransferase EC 2.4.2.34: indolylacetylinositol arabinosyltransferase EC 2.4.2.35: flavonol-3-O-glycoside xylosyltransferase EC 2.4.2.36: NAD+—diphthamide ADP-ribosyltransferase EC 2.4.2.37: NAD+ —dinitrogen-reductase ADP-D-ribosyltransferase EC 2.4.2.38: glycoprotein 2-β-D-xylosyltransferase EC 2.4.2.39: xyloglucan 6-xylosyltransferase EC 2.4.2.40: zeatin O-β-D-xylosyltransferase EC 2.4.2.41: xylogalacturonan β-1,3-xylosyltransferase EC 2.4.2.42: UDP-D-xylose:β-D-glucoside α-1,3-D-xylosyltransferase EC 2.4.2.43: lipid IVA 4-amino-4-deoxy-L-arabinosyltransferase EC 2.4.2.44: S-methyl-5′-thioinosine phosphorylase EC 2.4.2.45: decaprenyl-phosphate phosphoribosyltransferase EC 2.4.2.46: galactan 5-O-arabinofuranosyltransferase EC 2.4.2.47: arabinofuranan 3-O-arabinosyltransferase EC 2.4.2.48: tRNA-guanine15 transglycosylase EC 2.4.2.49: neamine phosphoribosyltransferase EC 2.4.2.50: cyanidin 3-O-galactoside 2′′-O-xylosyltransferase EC 2.4.2.51: anthocyanidin 3-O-glucoside 2′′′-O-xylosyltransferase EC 2.4.2.52: triphosphoribosyl-dephospho-CoA synthase EC 2.4.2.53: undecaprenyl-phosphate 4-deoxy-4-formamido-L-arabinose transferase EC 2.4.2.54: β-ribofuranosylphenol 5′-phosphate synthase EC 2.4.2.55: nicotinate D-ribonucleotide:phenol phospho-D-ribosyltransferase EC 2.4.2.56: kaempferol 3-O-xylosyltransferase EC 2.4.2.57: AMP phosphorylase EC 2.4.2.58: hydroxyproline O-arabinosyltransferase EC 2.4.2.59: sulfide-dependent adenosine diphosphate thiazole synthase EC 2.4.2.60: cysteine-dependent adenosine diphosphate thiazole synthase EC 2.4.2.61: α-dystroglycan β1,4-xylosyltransferase EC 2.4.2.62: xylosyl α-1,3-xylosyltransferase EC 2.4.2.63: EGF-domain serine xylosyltransferase EC 2.4.2.64: tRNA-guanosine34 queuine transglycosylase
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Others charged during Bukele's war on corruption include deputies Erick García, Lorena Peña and Alberto Romero, and national security advisor Alejandro Muyshondt. In 2022, the last full year before the war against corruption was announced, Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index gave El Salvador a score of 33 out of 100 and ranked it 116th out of 180 countries. According to a February 2023 CID-Gallup opinion poll, only four percent of Salvadorans considered corruption the country's most pressing issue.
=== HLX === Following the release of Half-Life: Alyx in 2020, dataminers examining updates to the Source 2 engine discovered that Valve was developing a non-VR game codenamed HLX. On December 31, 2024, Mike Shapiro, the voice actor for the G-Man, posted a cryptic message on X suggesting "unexpected surprises" in the new year. In April, it was reported that HLX was being playtested and would be a sequel to Episode Two. Industry insiders, dataminers and leakers reported that Valve was planning a 2025 announcement for HLX. In December, the Insider Gaming senior editor Mike Straw said HLX was planned as a launch game for Valve's Steam Machine hardware, and the announcement had been delayed by the rising cost of RAM.
==== Temperature reconstruction ==== Isotopic composition of precipitation can be used to infer changes in air temperature based on the Rayleigh process. Lower temperature corresponds to lower saturation vapor pressure, which leads to more condensation that drives the residual vapor toward isotope depletion. The resulting precipitation thus has a more negative δD and δ18O value at lower temperature. This precipitation isotope thermometer is more sensitive at lower temperatures, and widely applied at high latitudes. For example, δD and δ18O were found to have a temperature sensitivity of 8‰/°C and 0.9‰/°C in Antarctic snow, and a sensitivity of 5.6‰/°C and 0.69‰/°C across Arctic sites. δD and δ18O of ice cores in Greenland, Antarctica and alpine glaciers are important archives of temperature change in the geological past.
Carod left the government after acknowledging that the meeting with ETA had taken place, but affirming that he had not negotiated anything, least of all a truce restricted to Catalonia. However, a few days later ETA declared a truce "only for Catalonia with effect from January 1, 2004."
=== Melanoma === Tumour-associated macrophages can be attracted by cytokines such as TGF-β and IL-10 produced by tumours in melanoma. These cytokines can also trigger the M2 polarisation of the infiltrated tumour-associated macrophages. Infiltrated macrophages that acquire the M2 phenotype are anti-inflammatory. They facilitate tumour growth and proliferation via immunosuppression, further cytokine production, and tumour angiogenesis. Tumour-associated macrophages also promote the invasion of cancer cells via the production of miRNA exosomes.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Cardarine is a common name for GW501516, a synthetic PPARδ agonist. It is not a steroid or a selective androgen receptor modulator. It was developed and studied as a research compound for metabolic pathways.
It binds to and activates PPARδ, a nuclear receptor that regulates genes related to fatty acid oxidation and energy use. This activation alters transcription in tissues such as skeletal muscle and liver. The full range of downstream effects in humans is not fully established.
No, cardarine is not known to occur naturally in plants, animals, or humans. It is a synthetic molecule produced for laboratory research. Products labeled as cardarine should therefore be treated as manufactured chemicals with variable purity.
Cardarine is commonly known as GW501516 or GW-1516. These names refer to the same synthetic compound. It is not a brand-name approved medicine.