Kazinol C is a 1,3-diphenylpropane, obtained from Broussonetia kazinoki, that has been employed in folk medicine as an edema suppressant. It exerts beneficial effects in oxidative stress-related diseases, such as cancer. However, the molecular mechanism involved in the anticancer effects remains to be determined. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) has emerged as a possible anticancer target molecule. The present study investigated the effect of kazinol C on AMPK activation as well as subsequent HT-29 colon cancer cell viability, apoptosis and migration. Kazinol C markedly induced AMPK phosphorylation and significantly attenuated HT-29 colon cancer cell growth and viability. Compound C, as a well‑known AMPK inhibitor, blocked the kazinol C-induced cell death, and stable transduction of dominant-negative (DN) AMPK in colon cancer cells also inhibited kazinol C-induced cell apoptosis. In addition, kazinol C inhibited HT-29 cell migration and anchorage-independent growth. AMPK inhibition using stable transduction with DN AMPK significantly abrogated the kazinol C-induced inhibition of cancer cell migration. Thus, AMPK is a critical and novel regulator of kazinol C-mediated cancer cell apoptosis and inhibition of migration, suggesting that AMPK is a prime cancer target.