Oxaloacetate (OAA), a salt of oxaloacetic acid, is a metabolic intermediate in many processes, e.g., urea cycle, gluconeogenesis, etc. that occur in animals. Experiments on animal have revealed that OAA was able to protect hepatocytes from hypoxia and liver ischemia/reperfusion injury. OAA also possesses a neuroprotective effect against ischemic injury, which strengthens the likelihood of its future applicability as a novel neuroprotective agent for the treatment of ischemic stroke patients. In addition, experiments on adipose stromal cells have shown that OAA directly protected cerebellar granule neurons from apoptosis induced by serum and potassium deprivation.