Abstract: The present invention relates to a 2,5-bis-aryl-3,4-dimethyltetrahydrofuran lignan compound which activates nutmeg-derived AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and to a composition including same as active ingredients for preventing and treating metabolic syndromes such as obesity. More particularly, the present invention relates to an AMPK-activating compound comprising one of the 2,5-bis-aryl-3,4-dimethyltetrahydrofuran lignan-based compounds produced by extracting Myristica fragrans with a solution of 30% or less of ethanol and separating and purifying the extracts using chromatography, as expressed in chemical formula 1 below, and to a composition comprising same as an active ingredient for preventing and treating metabolic syndrome caused by AMPK enzyme activation, such as obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol and cardiopulmonary diseases.