In the current study, proliferation and apoptosis analysis provided evidence that anethole has anticancer properties in human oral squamous cell carcinoma, and could be considered as a potential therapeutic agent for oral cancer by disrupting their cell cycle, increasing cell apoptosis, and targeting MAPkases, NF-κB and Wnt pathways and the transcriptional activity of theses pathways. The gene discussed is NFKB1; the disease is oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma.