Chemical composition, antibacterial activity and study of the interaction mechanisms of the main compounds present in the Alpinia galanga rhizomes essential oil

•Multi-target antibacterial mechanism of Galangal root essential oil was explored.•Dominant compositions included ethyl cinnamate, methyl cinnamate, n-pentadecane.•P-type ATPases and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities were inhibited.•Spectroscopic studies and molecular docking revealed the groove binding mode.