Abstract: High pressure carbon dioxide (HPCD) , as a new kind of non-thermal technology, has become a focus topic for the researchers.But its inactivation mechanisms haven't been fully understood.In this paper, research progress in inactivation mechanisms of HPCD was reviewed, and the effects of HPCD on several targets of microorganisms, such as the cell wall, membrane, cytoplasm, protein, endogenous enzymes and DNA, were analyzed, respectivley.This paper could provide theoretical support for the future research and application of HPCD.