To investigate the effect of turmeric volatile oil (TVO) on the apoptosis and proliferation of human skin SCC A431 cells, A431 cells were incubated with different concentrations (5-80 mg•L⁻¹) of TVO in vitro．The proliferation and cell cycle were assessed by CCK8 assay. The change of morphology was observed with inverted microscope. Apoptosis was evaluated with AO/EB double staining and flow cytometry (FCM); cell cycle was analyzed with FCM ．Western blot method was used to detect caspase-3 and caspase-9 protein expression. Results indicated that TVO has significant inhibitory effects on the growth of A431 cells in a dose dependent relationship, the difference between groups has statistically significant (P<0.05). TVO group compared with control group, concentrations in cells shrivel and broken phenomenon, cell apoptosis rate increased, and a dose dependent and increased the expression of caspase-3 and caspase-9. The experiment results suggested that TVO could restrain skin squamous carcinoma A431 cells proliferation, and induce its apoptosis. The mechanism may be related to increase the expression of caspase-3 and caspase-9.