Ethnopharmacological relevance Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is a growing global concern, highlighting the urgent need for new antimicrobial candidates. Aframomum melegueta was traditionally used for combating urinary tract and soft tissue infections, which implies its potential as an antimicrobial agent. Aim of study This study was designed to explore the antibacterial and anti-virulence capabilities of 4-shogaol isolated from A. melegueta seeds versus gram-negative bacteria: Serratia marcescens, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and the clinically important pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa.