Abstract: Malignant tumor seriously endangers human life and health. Radiotherapy is currently one of the most common treatments for malignant tumor. However, ionizing radiation (IR) can cause radiation resistance of tumor cells and damage normal tissue cells, thereby limiting the clinical application of radiotherapy. Natural polyphenols not only can improve the radiosensitivity of tumor cells, but also can alleviate the negative effects of IR on the body, thus playing an important role in tumor treatment. Dysregulation of non-coding RNA plays an important role in the occurrence and development of many diseases. In recent years, studies have found that the anti-tumor and radiosensitization effects of polyphenols are associated with non-coding RNA regulation. In this context, this paper reviews the anti-tumor and radiosensitization effects of natural polyphenols and their mechanisms, especially from the perspective of non-coding RNA regulation, in order to provide new ideas for the intervention and treatment of tumors and other diseases, as well as the development of food products for special medical purposes.

Key words: polyphenols; ionizing radiation; non-coding RNA; anti-tumor; radiosensitization