p-Coumaric acid kills bacteria through dual damage mechanisms

► p-Coumaric acid effectively inhibited the growth of all test bacterial pathogens. ► The mechanism of antibacterial action of p-coumaric acid has not been reported. ► It is found that p-coumaric acid kills bacteria through dual damage mechanisms. ► p-Coumaric acid significantly increased the outer and plasma membrane permeability. ► p-Coumaric acid could bind to bacterial genomic DNA to inhibit cellular functions.