Shogaol, one of the main pungent principles of the rhizome of Zingiber officinale, Roscoe, was biodegraded by Aspergillus niger to produce two main metabolites. The crystalline metabolite obtained after silicic acid column chromatography was proved to be 1-(4-hydroxy-3- methoxyphenyl)decan-10-ol-3-one. The oily metabolite obtained after prolonged fermentation was 1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-decan-3, 10-diol. The results suggest that shogaol should be biodegraded to 1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-dec-4-en-10-ol-3-one or to 1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-decan-3-one, and to 1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-decan-10-ol-3-one then to 1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-decan-3, 10-diol and finally to carbon dioxide and water.