Background　Pyruvate has been demonstrated since over half a century ago that it has multi-histocyte protection function.　Objective　The present review illustrated the pyruvate’s protection of multi-histocyte and its potential mechanisms for further studies.　Context　Pyruvate is metabolite of glycolysis， a center of three major nutrition’s metabolisms in human beings. Exogenous pyruvate can preserve protection function on multiple tissue/organ under hypoxic， even anoxic conditions， especially cardiomyocytes， endothelial cells， blood cells， neurons and retina. The pyruvate protection may be closely associated with its correction of glucose metabolic disorders， enhancement of energy， anti-oxidative and-nitrosative stress， correction of intracellular acidosis， inhibition of inflammation， as well as anti-apoptosis.　Trend　Pyruvate may have great prospect in treating tissue damage and severe cases caused by ischemia， hypoxia， trauma and infection.