En premier lieu, notre travail résume l'état des connaissances sur les Ganodermataceae des Antilles françaises, en se basant sur l'analyse exhaustive de la littérature et sur les récoltes personnelles que nous avons effectuées au cours de 7 missions sur le terrain, en Guadeloupe et en Martinique (2003- 2008). Soixante quatre collections ont été examinées, ainsi que plusieurs types d'espèces décrites des Néotropiques (Ganoderma dussii Pat., G. pulverulentum Murrill, G. subfornicatum Murrill, G. tuberculosum Murrill). Au total, quinze taxons ont été identifiés dans les Antilles françaises. Les caractères morphologiques de chaque espèce ont fait l'objet d'une description méticuleuse, d'une illustration sur planche ainsi que d'une discussion. De plus, chacune de nos hypothèses portées sur l'identité des espèces s'appuie sur des résultats phylogénétiques. Les espèces suivantes sont citées pour la première fois aux Antilles : Ganoderma amazonense Weir, Ganoderma flaviporum (Murill) Sacc.& Trotter, Ganoderma subamboinense (P. Hennings) Bazzalo & Wright, Ganoderma tuberculosum Murril. En second lieu, nos recherches ont porté sur la comparaison des activités antiprolifératives de différents extraits méthanoliques de Ganodermataceae Donk récoltés aux Antilles et Guyane françaises et de deux espèces de référence : Ganoderma lucidum européen et ‘Ganoderma lucidum' asiatique, sur cellules cancéreuses humaines de type prostatique (PC-3), mammaires (MCF- 7) et colorectal (HT-29). Nous avons démontré que certains ganodermes néotropicaux tel le Ganoderma tuberculosum pouvaient aussi inhiber la croissance des cellules cancéreuses de la même façon, sinon plus, que le Ganoderma lucidum utilisé en médecine traditionnelle asiatique et le Ganoderma lucidum européen. Les acides ganodériques A, DM et F, pour lesquels une activité anticancéreuse a été démontrée, n'ont pas été retrouvés dans l'extrait méthanolique de Ganoderma tuberculosum. D'un autre côté, l'extrait de cette espèce contient un composé majoritaire correspondant à un acide ganodérique jusqu'ici jamais décrit : GA FWI. Celui-ci n'a pas montré d'activité antiproliférative significative sur cellules cancéreuses de type PC-3, MCF-7 et HT29. De plus, ce travail a montré que l'activité antiproliférative du G. lucidum européen est similaire à celle du G. lucidum traditionnellement utilisé en médecine asiatique excepté pour HT29 pour lesquels aucune activité n'a été démontrée pour l'espèce asiatique. Enfin, notre étude illustre l'importance des investigations taxinomiques fiables, avec des méthodes traditionnelles et moléculaires, afin d'identifier clairement les espèces contenant les molécules spécifiques bioactives.

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Pharmacology / Master / Master of Philosophy

本研究利用專利檢索與分析來探討靈芝產業中專利佈局情況，技術領域現況及發展重點，產業中的競爭者、合作者及廠商，以及得知靈芝於全球、區域或不同國家的產品應用情況。研究範圍以廣泛使用之靈芝（Ganoderma lucidum）及松杉靈芝（Ganoderma tsugae）為主要研究對象，分析範圍包括其子實體、菌絲體及擔孢子各部位外，亦包含其所含之各種活性成分及各類相關應用。 透過分析PCT、美國、台灣及中國大陸之靈芝相關專利，將專利件數、國際專利分類表分析（又稱為IPC分類分析）及專利權人分析等結果製成圖表並對照產業資訊後可得知：（1）韓國及中國大陸為主要的靈芝消費市場，其中中國大陸消費市場正逐年擴大，且產品種類繁多，為全球最重要的靈芝消費市場；（2）靈芝普遍以醫藥品開發及保健產品應用為最主要的技術發展方向，而醫藥品研發則以抗腫瘤及治療免疫或過敏疾病為主要治療的疾病；（3）不同國家靈芝研發領域有些許差異，美國及歐洲國家主要針對特定細胞株或特定疾病之醫藥品開發，而韓國或中國大陸則是以靈芝保健食品開發或傳統複方製劑為主要產品開發方向；（4）靈芝產業中的競爭國家有美國、日本、中國大陸及韓國；（5）台灣有數家廠商於不同國家進行專利佈局，其中中央研究院內靈芝多醣體團隊其專利產出最為亮眼，為國際上具有相當研發能力之機構；（6）台灣靈芝相關的研發能力仍優於中國大陸，專利品質較佳，故於靈芝產業中台灣廠商仍具有相當之優勢；（7）靈芝醫藥品開發之專利佈局以美國最為完整，而中國大陸則是在靈芝子實體栽種及茶代用品的專利數量較其他兩國家為多。 / This study is to explore the use of patent search and patent analysis in understanding the situation of current patent portfolio, technology mainstream development, competitors, collaborators, and their applications within the Ganaderma industry at the national, regional as well as international levels. Ganoderma lucidum and Ganoderma tsugae are the subjects in this study. The areas of investigation included different forms of fruiting bodies, mycelium, basidiospores, their active components as well as their respective applications. In this study, Ganoderma related patents in US, Taiwan, China as well as international patents under PCT (Patent Corporation Treaty) were searched and studied. By incorporating the industrial information together with visual display of the related patent information using tables and graphs, the following conclusions can be obtained: (1) Korea and China are the main consumer markets of Ganoderma in the world, especially China market is expanding every year with various categories of product; (2) the mainstream technologies are health related products such as dietary supplements and medicinal preparations for the use as antineoplastic, immunological or allergic agents; (3) Ganoderma is investigated in various fields among varous countries; for example, the focus of United States and European countries are concentrated in medicinal use of Ganoderma for specific cell line and treatment of diseases whereas China and Korea are concentrated in the dietary supplements and classical complex mixture preparation development; (4) the United States, Japan, China and Korea are the major marketers as well competitors among each other in Ganoderma industry; (5) several firms in Taiwan own patent portfolio in more than one country, and among them Academia Sinica is considered one of the best in the world; (6) the quality and strength of Taiwan patents is considered better than China; as such Taiwan Ganoderma industry should have superior capability in technology development compared to China; (7) in the field of medicinal product development and treatment of diseases, United States is the distinct leader in the patent landscape whereas China patents are concentrated in Ganoderma fruit body cultivation and their use as tea substitutes.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Wollongong, 2005. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references: leaf 118-127.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 203-226) Also available in print.

published_or_final_version / Anatomy / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Ganoderma lucidum is one of most popular medicinal mushrooms in oriental countries. The medicinal properties of Ganoderma lucidum in the treatment of various diseases have been documented for hundreds of years. In recent years, more and more attentions are paid on the studies of the action mechanisms of bioactive compounds purified from this mushroom. / In conclusion, the Ganoderma steroids EP and 9(11)-DHEP can induce caspase-dependent apoptosis in susceptible cancer cells via the mitochondria-mediated pathway. In vitro and in vivo studies suggested that these two fungal steroids have the potential to be used as natural chemopreventive agents. / Keywords: Ergosterol peroxide, 9(11)-dehydroergosterol peroxide, Ganoderma lucidum, Mycelia, Antitumor activity, Apoptosis / The antiproliferative activities of EP and 9(11)-DHEP were studied by flow cytometry. Exposure of cancer cells with these two fungal steroids resulted in an accumulation of cell population at the subG1 phase in a dosage- and time-dependent manner, indicating the induction of apoptotic cell death. Morphological apoptotic changes in HepG2 cells and A375 cells were observed using TUNEL assay and Annexin-V-FLUOS assay. The signaling pathway in apoptotic cell death induced by EP and 9(11)-DHEP involved the activation of caspase 3, 7 and 9, followed by the cleavage of PARP. In Colo201 cells, a change in the ratio of expression levels of Bcl-2/Bax was observed in cells treated with EP and 9(11)-DHEP. In A375 cells, exposure to EP and 9(11)-DHEP resulted in the release of mitochondrial cytochrome c, the down-regulation of Mcl-1 and a slight up-regulation of Bak in a dosage-dependent manner. All these results indicated that apoptotic cell death in susceptible cancer cells induced by EP and 9(11)-DHEP was via the mitochondria-mediated pathway. / The in vivo antitumor activity of EP was demonstrated. EP was shown to suppress the growth of A375 cells in a nude mice xenograft model. Further studies showed that EP induced the cleavage of PARP and enhanced the total caspase 7 gene expression in the tumor cells. / Triterpenes and steroids are two important classes of Ganoderma lucidum metabolites of low molecular mass that are responsible for the antitumor activities of the mushroom. In this study, two fungal steroids, namely, 5alpha,8alpha-epidioxy-22E-ergosta-6,22-dien-3beta-ol (ergosterol peroxide (EP)) and 5alpha,8alpha-epidioxy-22E-ergosta-6,9(11),22-trien-3beta-ol (9,11-dehydroergosterol peroxide (9(11)-DHEP)) were purified from the mycelia of Ganoderma lucidum grown under submerged culture using activity-guided purification procedures against human breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cells. In addition to MCF-7 cells, both of these two fungal steroids showed antiproliferative activities against other human cancer cells including hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells, colorectal carcinoma Colo201 cells, esophageal squamous carcinoma KYSE cells and malignant melanoma A375 cells. However, EP and 9(11)-DHEP were less toxic to MCF-10-2A, non-tumorigenic human epithelial cells, and the normal human skin fibroblast Hs68 cells. / Zheng, Lin. / Adviser: Y. S. Wong. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 71-01, Section: B, page: 0253. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 153-176). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese.

Os objetivos do presente trabalho foram: avaliar o processo de biodeterioração do lenho das árvores de tipuana na cidade de São Paulo e relacionar as alterações da sua estrutura anatômica e propriedades físico-mecânicas com o seu risco de queda. Nos passeios públicos de regiões selecionadas da cidade, 1109 árvores de tipuana foram caracterizadas quanto às condições de entorno, estado geral, variáveis dendrométricas, biodeterioração externa e interna e o risco de queda, estimado com modelo de cálculo estrutural desenvolvido pelo IPT. A biodeterioração e os mecanismos de resistência das árvores foram avaliados ao nível macroscópico e microscópico. As alterações nas propriedades do lenho de tipuana foram analisadas por densitometria de raios X e pelos ensaios físico-mecânicos (densidade de massa aparente; resistência à flexão) e aplicado o método de elementos finitos para análise da distribuição de tensões no lenho. As árvores de tipuana de elevada idade não apresentaram sinais de declínio, embora com estado geral considerado como crítico, pelo plantio em locais indequados, manejo inapropriado e/ou ocorrência de injúrias. O lenho foi deteriorado por fungos apodrecedores, cupins-subterrâneos e brocas-de-madeira, sendo os fungos e cupins os principais organismos xilófagos, afetando a região do cerne; a associção entre os fungos, os cupins, as variáveis dendrométricas e o risco de queda foram estatisticamente significantes ao nível de 5 %. O cupim-subterrâneo Coptotermes gestroi ocorreu em elevados níveis de infestação nas árvores, sendo considerado, no entanto, como um organismo-praga secundário, fortemente associado com lenho previamente apodrecido por Ganoderma sp.. Os fungos apodrecedores ocorrentes foram classificados como de podridão branca e mole, sendo a primeira mais comum no cerne das árvores. Como mecanismo de resistência à biodeterioração observou-se a compartimentalização do lenho, caracterizada pelo acúmulo de extrativos nas células. Os fungos xilófagos causaram reduções significativas na densidade de massa aparente, tensão de ruptura à flexão estática e módulo de elasticidade em estágios incipiente e intenso de apodrecimento do lenho. Ruptura do tronco e o risco de queda das árvores de tipuana relacionaram-se, principalmente, com a intensidade da deterioração do lenho e com a sua dendrometria. A alteração da distribuição das tensões no lenho foi analisada em relação ao estágio, tamanho e localização da deterioração no tronco das árvores de tipuana. / The objectives of the present work were to evaluate the process of biodeterioration in the wood of tipuana trees in the city of São Paulo and to relate the alterations in the anatomical structures and physical and mechanical properties with there falling risk. In the sidewalks of selected regions of the city, 1109 trees were characterized taking into consideration aspects as surroundings, general conditions, dendrometric variables, external and internal biodeterioration and falling risk estimated by using a structural model developed by IPT. The biodeterioration and the resistance mechanisms of the trees were evaluated at a macro and microscopic levels. The alterations on the wood properties were analysed by X-rays densitometry and by performing physical and mechanical tests (specific gravity; bending resistance); the tension distribution in the wood was analyze by finite-elements method. The old aged trees encountered, did not show any sign of decline, eventhough, the general aspect of their surroundings was critical by the inadequate places they were planted; inappropriate management and/or occurrence of injuries. The trees had their trunks deteriorated by xylophagous organisms, mainly fungi and subterranean-termites, and some wood borer beetle too, which affected the heartwood. The association between the presence of the first two organinsms, the dendrometric variables and the risk of falling, was statistically significant at the 5% level. The infestation of the trees by the subterranean-termite Coptotermes gestroi was at high levels, however, it was considered as a secundary plague-organism, because its attack was strongly associated with the previously decayed heartwood by Ganoderma sp.. The decaying fungi observed were classified as white rot and soft rot, being the white rot more common in the heartwood of the trees. As a resistance mechanism of the trees against biodeterioration, it was observed the compartimentalization of the wood characterized by the accumulation of extractives in the cells. Decaying fungi caused significant reductions in the following wood properties: specific gravity, rupture strength to bending and modulus of elasticity either in incipient or intense decay. Trees trunk rupture and falling risk were associated mainly to biodeterioration intensity and dendrometric variables. The alteration of tension distribution in the wood was analyzed in relation to the stage, size and position of the deterioration in the wood of the trees.

Ko, Wai Man. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 243-257). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Publications Based On The Work In This Thesis --- p.i / Abstract --- p.ii / Acknowledgements --- p.ix / Abbreviations --- p.x / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction / Chapter 1.1 --- Prevalence of arthritis --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Pathogenesis of arthritis --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Histological changes --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2.1.1 --- Synovium changes --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2.1.2 --- Articular cartilage degradation --- p.8 / Chapter 1.2.1.3 --- Bone erosions --- p.10 / Chapter 1.3 --- Western medicines for arthritis --- p.14 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) --- p.15 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Glucocorticoids (GCs) --- p.18 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) --- p.20 / Chapter 1.3.4 --- Biological therapies --- p.22 / Chapter 1.4 --- Traditional Chinese medicines for arthritis --- p.24 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Ganoderma lucidum (靈芝））) --- p.26 / Chapter 1.4.1.1 --- Major chemical constituents --- p.27 / Chapter 1.4.1.2 --- Functions --- p.27 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Cortex Phellodendri (黃柏） --- p.28 / Chapter 1.4.2.1 --- Major chemical constituents --- p.29 / Chapter 1.4.2.2 --- Traditional description --- p.29 / Chapter 1.4.2.3 --- Functions --- p.30 / Chapter 1.4.3 --- Atractylodisa Rhizoma (蒼术) --- p.31 / Chapter 1.4.3.1 --- Major chemical constituents --- p.31 / Chapter 1.4.3.2 --- Traditional description --- p.32 / Chapter 1.4.3.3 --- Functions --- p.32 / Chapter 1.4.4 --- Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae (牛膝) --- p.33 / Chapter 1.4.4.1 --- Major chemical constituents --- p.34 / Chapter 1.4.4.2 --- Traditional description --- p.34 / Chapter 1.4.4.3 --- Functions --- p.34 / Chapter 1.5 --- Animal models of arthritis --- p.36 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- Adjuvant-induced arthritis --- p.37 / Chapter 1.6 --- Aims of study --- p.42 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Materials and Drugs --- p.44 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Methodology --- p.49 / Chapter 3.1 --- Induction of anaesthesia --- p.49 / Chapter 3.2 --- Induction of monoarthritis --- p.49 / Chapter 3.3 --- Measurements of knee extension angles --- p.50 / Chapter 3.4 --- Measurements of knee joint sizes --- p.51 / Chapter 3.5 --- Assessment of changes in articular blood flow --- p.52 / Chapter 3.6 --- Assessment of morphological changes --- p.53 / Chapter 3.6.1 --- Fixation --- p.53 / Chapter 3.6.2 --- Decalcification --- p.53 / Chapter 3.6.3 --- Processing --- p.54 / Chapter 3.6.4 --- Embedding --- p.54 / Chapter 3.6.5 --- Sectioning --- p.55 / Chapter 3.6.6 --- Staining --- p.55 / Chapter 3.6.7 --- Scoring --- p.56 / Chapter 3.7 --- Statistical analysis --- p.57 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Adjuvant-induced Monoarthritic Rats / Chapter 4.1 --- Adjuvant-induced monoarthritic rats (1 week) --- p.58 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Method --- p.58 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Results --- p.59 / Chapter 4.1.2.1 --- Body weight --- p.59 / Chapter 4.1.2.2 --- Knee joint sizes --- p.59 / Chapter 4.1.2.3 --- Knee extension angles --- p.59 / Chapter 4.1.2.4 --- Knee joint blood flow --- p.60 / Chapter 4.1.2.5 --- Histological evaluation --- p.60 / Chapter 4.1.2.5.1 --- Cell infiltration --- p.60 / Chapter 4.1.2.5.2 --- Synovial tissue proliferation --- p.61 / Chapter 4.1.2.5.3 --- Cartilage degradation --- p.61 / Chapter 4.2 --- Adjuvant-induced monoarthritic rats (2 weeks) --- p.68 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Method --- p.68 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Results --- p.69 / Chapter 4.2.2.1 --- Body weight --- p.69 / Chapter 4.2.2.2 --- Knee joint sizes --- p.69 / Chapter 4.2.2.3 --- Knee extension angles --- p.69 / Chapter 4.2.2.4 --- Knee joint blood flow --- p.70 / Chapter 4.2.2.5 --- Histological evaluation --- p.70 / Chapter 4.2.2.5.1 --- Cell infiltration --- p.70 / Chapter 4.2.2.5.2 --- Synovial tissue proliferation --- p.71 / Chapter 4.2.2.5.3 --- Cartilage degradation --- p.71 / Chapter 4.3 --- Discussions --- p.78 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Effects of intra-articular injection of LS in adjuvant-induced monoarthritic rats --- p.82 / Chapter 5.1 --- Method --- p.82 / Chapter 5.2 --- Results --- p.83 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Body weight --- p.83 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Knee joint sizes --- p.83 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Knee extension angles --- p.85 / Chapter 5.2.4 --- Knee joint blood flow --- p.87 / Chapter 5.3 --- Discussions --- p.98 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Effects of oral administration of LS in adjuvant-induced monoarthritic rats --- p.102 / Chapter 6.1 --- Oral administration of LS for 6 days after induction of arthritis --- p.102 / Chapter 6.1.1 --- Method --- p.102 / Chapter 6.1.2 --- Results --- p.103 / Chapter 6.1.2.1 --- Body weight --- p.103 / Chapter 6.1.2.2 --- Knee joint sizes --- p.103 / Chapter 6.1.2.3 --- Knee extension angles --- p.105 / Chapter 6.1.2.4 --- Knee joint blood flow --- p.106 / Chapter 6.1.2.5 --- Histological evaluation --- p.107 / Chapter 6.1.2.5.1 --- Cell infiltration --- p.107 / Chapter 6.1.2.5.2 --- Synovial tissue proliferation --- p.107 / Chapter 6.1.2.5.3 --- Cartilage degradation --- p.108 / Chapter 6.2 --- Oral administration of LS for 7 days before and 7 days after induction of arthritis --- p.131 / Chapter 6.2.1 --- Method --- p.131 / Chapter 6.2.2 --- Results --- p.132 / Chapter 6.2.2.1 --- Body weight --- p.132 / Chapter 6.2.2.2 --- Knee joint sizes --- p.132 / Chapter 6.2.2.3 --- Knee extension angles --- p.134 / Chapter 6.2.2.4 --- Knee joint blood flow --- p.137 / Chapter 6.2.2.5 --- Histological evaluation --- p.137 / Chapter 6.2.2.5.1 --- Cell infiltration --- p.137 / Chapter 6.2.2.5.2 --- Synovial tissue proliferation --- p.138 / Chapter 6.2.2.5.3 --- Cartilage degradation --- p.138 / Chapter 6.3 --- Oral administration of LS for 13 days after induction of arthritis --- p.165 / Chapter 6.3.1 --- Method --- p.165 / Chapter 6.3.2 --- Results --- p.166 / Chapter 6.3.2.1 --- Body weight --- p.166 / Chapter 6.3.2.2 --- Knee joint sizes --- p.166 / Chapter 6.3.2.3 --- Knee extension angles --- p.168 / Chapter 6.3.2.4 --- Knee joint blood flow --- p.169 / Chapter 6.3.2.5 --- Histological evaluation --- p.170 / Chapter 6.3.2.5.1 --- Cell infiltration --- p.170 / Chapter 6.3.2.5.2 --- Synovial tissue proliferation --- p.170 / Chapter 6.3.2.5.3 --- Cartilage degradation --- p.171 / Chapter 6.4 --- Discussions --- p.194 / Chapter Chapter 7 --- Effects of intra-peritoneal administration of LS in adjuvant-induced monoarthritic rats --- p.203 / Chapter 7.1 --- Method --- p.203 / Chapter 7.2 --- Results --- p.204 / Chapter 7.2.1 --- Body weight --- p.204 / Chapter 7.2.2 --- Knee joint sizes --- p.205 / Chapter 7.2.3 --- Knee extension angles --- p.207 / Chapter 7.2.4 --- Knee joint blood flow --- p.209 / Chapter 7.2.5 --- Histological evaulation --- p.209 / Chapter 7.2.5.1 --- Cell infiltration --- p.209 / Chapter 7.2.5.2 --- Synovial tissue proliferation --- p.210 / Chapter 7.2.5.3 --- Cartilage degradation --- p.210 / Chapter 7.3 --- Discussions --- p.237 / Chapter Chapter 8 --- Conclusions --- p.239 / References --- p.243

Os objetivos do presente trabalho foram: avaliar o processo de biodeterioração do lenho das árvores de tipuana na cidade de São Paulo e relacionar as alterações da sua estrutura anatômica e propriedades físico-mecânicas com o seu risco de queda. Nos passeios públicos de regiões selecionadas da cidade, 1109 árvores de tipuana foram caracterizadas quanto às condições de entorno, estado geral, variáveis dendrométricas, biodeterioração externa e interna e o risco de queda, estimado com modelo de cálculo estrutural desenvolvido pelo IPT. A biodeterioração e os mecanismos de resistência das árvores foram avaliados ao nível macroscópico e microscópico. As alterações nas propriedades do lenho de tipuana foram analisadas por densitometria de raios X e pelos ensaios físico-mecânicos (densidade de massa aparente; resistência à flexão) e aplicado o método de elementos finitos para análise da distribuição de tensões no lenho. As árvores de tipuana de elevada idade não apresentaram sinais de declínio, embora com estado geral considerado como crítico, pelo plantio em locais indequados, manejo inapropriado e/ou ocorrência de injúrias. O lenho foi deteriorado por fungos apodrecedores, cupins-subterrâneos e brocas-de-madeira, sendo os fungos e cupins os principais organismos xilófagos, afetando a região do cerne; a associção entre os fungos, os cupins, as variáveis dendrométricas e o risco de queda foram estatisticamente significantes ao nível de 5 %. O cupim-subterrâneo Coptotermes gestroi ocorreu em elevados níveis de infestação nas árvores, sendo considerado, no entanto, como um organismo-praga secundário, fortemente associado com lenho previamente apodrecido por Ganoderma sp.. Os fungos apodrecedores ocorrentes foram classificados como de podridão branca e mole, sendo a primeira mais comum no cerne das árvores. Como mecanismo de resistência à biodeterioração observou-se a compartimentalização do lenho, caracterizada pelo acúmulo de extrativos nas células. Os fungos xilófagos causaram reduções significativas na densidade de massa aparente, tensão de ruptura à flexão estática e módulo de elasticidade em estágios incipiente e intenso de apodrecimento do lenho. Ruptura do tronco e o risco de queda das árvores de tipuana relacionaram-se, principalmente, com a intensidade da deterioração do lenho e com a sua dendrometria. A alteração da distribuição das tensões no lenho foi analisada em relação ao estágio, tamanho e localização da deterioração no tronco das árvores de tipuana. / The objectives of the present work were to evaluate the process of biodeterioration in the wood of tipuana trees in the city of São Paulo and to relate the alterations in the anatomical structures and physical and mechanical properties with there falling risk. In the sidewalks of selected regions of the city, 1109 trees were characterized taking into consideration aspects as surroundings, general conditions, dendrometric variables, external and internal biodeterioration and falling risk estimated by using a structural model developed by IPT. The biodeterioration and the resistance mechanisms of the trees were evaluated at a macro and microscopic levels. The alterations on the wood properties were analysed by X-rays densitometry and by performing physical and mechanical tests (specific gravity; bending resistance); the tension distribution in the wood was analyze by finite-elements method. The old aged trees encountered, did not show any sign of decline, eventhough, the general aspect of their surroundings was critical by the inadequate places they were planted; inappropriate management and/or occurrence of injuries. The trees had their trunks deteriorated by xylophagous organisms, mainly fungi and subterranean-termites, and some wood borer beetle too, which affected the heartwood. The association between the presence of the first two organinsms, the dendrometric variables and the risk of falling, was statistically significant at the 5% level. The infestation of the trees by the subterranean-termite Coptotermes gestroi was at high levels, however, it was considered as a secundary plague-organism, because its attack was strongly associated with the previously decayed heartwood by Ganoderma sp.. The decaying fungi observed were classified as white rot and soft rot, being the white rot more common in the heartwood of the trees. As a resistance mechanism of the trees against biodeterioration, it was observed the compartimentalization of the wood characterized by the accumulation of extractives in the cells. Decaying fungi caused significant reductions in the following wood properties: specific gravity, rupture strength to bending and modulus of elasticity either in incipient or intense decay. Trees trunk rupture and falling risk were associated mainly to biodeterioration intensity and dendrometric variables. The alteration of tension distribution in the wood was analyzed in relation to the stage, size and position of the deterioration in the wood of the trees.