Akaloid is the effective component of many traditional Chinese medicines(TCM) with significant biological activity. Some kinds of alkaloid have been applied to clinic. Extraction and isolation from natural plants are the main sources of alkaloid in clinically used preparations, in which the methods and technology of purification process have been the focus of research. The application of macroporous adsorbent resin in the purification of alkaloids is systematically reviewed. The common rule and questions among them are concluded and the solution is given. The research thinking for the highly selective purification of alkaloid by macroporous is provided to serve the industrial production.