OBJECTIVE To explore the research status, research hotspot and development trend of brucine by carried out the bibliometric analysis of the domestic and foreign literatures related to brucine. METHODS Literature related to brucine in CNKI and Web of Science database was systematically searched, and literature metrology method was applied based on CiteSpace 5.8.R3 software for visual analysis of publication year, core authors, countries, keywords, etc. RESULTS A total of 439 Chinese and 602 English literatures were included in this study. In the past 40 years, the number of publications related to brucine had shown a steady growth trend. The domestic high-yield authors were mainly members of Cai Baochang's research team. The research content of this team involved the content determination, anti-tumor effect, pharmacokinetics, processing and transformation, and development of new dosage forms of main alkaloids and corresponding nitrogen oxides components in Strychni Semen, etc. Based on country-by-country analysis, China had the highest number of publications, and further research cooperation with other countries was to be developed. Keyword analysis showed that the common research hotspots at home and abroad were mainly in two aspects:anti-tumor pharmacological activity and mechanism research, research on new drug delivery system of brucine. The research on brucine was still in the development stage, and the Chinese literatures had changed from quality control to pharmacological activity and new dosage forms; English literatures mostly focus on the fields of pharmacological activity, new dosage forms and asymmetric synthesis. CONCLUSION The research of brucine is still in the development stage, and the cooperation and communication between research teams need to be strengthened. Toxic reduction and efficiency enhancement will remain the focus and trend of future research.