Objective To investigate whether capsaicin (CAP) can improve the proliferation and migration of cerebral basilar artery smooth muscle cells (BASMCs) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Methods Primary BASMCs of SHR and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were cultured in vitro, randomly divided into control group (WKY group), SHR group and capsaicin treatment group (CAP group). The intervention concentration of CAP was determined by CCK-8 assay; TranswellTM chamber assay and scratch test were used to detect the migration ability of BASMCs; the expression and distribution of osteopontin (OPN) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in BASMCs were detected by immunofluorescence assay, and Western blot analysis was used to detect the protein levels of OPN and PCNA in BASMCs. Results Compared with WKY group, the proliferation and migration ability of BASMC in SHR group were enhanced, while the CAP treatment undermined the proliferation and migration of BASMCs. OPN was expressed in the cytoplasm and nucleus of BASMCs, while PCNA was mainly expressed in the nuclei. Compared with WKY group, the expression and protein level of OPN and PCNA were increased in SHR group, and decreased significantly after CAP treatment. Conclusion Capsaicin can reduce the proliferation and migration of SHR derived BASMCs.