Antimicrobial activity of nobiletin and tangeretin against Pseudomonas

► We investigated the antimicrobial mechanism of nobiletin and tangeretin. ► The leakage of intracellular constituent increased clearly treated by nobiletin and tangeretin. ► Nobiletin and tangeretin inhibit the activities of dehydrogenase in bacterial cells. ► The proteins synthesis in bacterial cells was also reduced. ► Bacterial cells were destroyed severely and accompanied with cells plasmolysis.