Novel Antimicrobial Bandages: Lemon Grass Essential Oil‐Potato Starch‐Coated Cotton Gauze Active Against Wound Infection Causing Klebsiella pneumoniae

ABSTRACT This study investigates the use of lemongrass ( Cymbopogon citratus ) essential oil (LGEO) as a vital remedy against antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a growing global health crisis driven by pathogens like multidrug‐resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae . LGEO's direct antibacterial efficacy against K. pneumoniae was evaluated using standard assays (MIC/MBIC), and its mechanism of action was explored by examining effects on bacterial growth kinetics, cell membrane integrity and cell permeability. A critical aspect of this research involved assessing LGEO's capacity to inhibit K. pneumoniae biofilm formation, a key contributor to persistent infections. Furthermore, a novel therapeutic application was developed by impregnating cotton gauze with LGEO using potato starch; the modified gauze was characterised with FE‐SEM and tested for its antimicrobial potential. The active components of LGEO were identified via FTIR and GC/MS. To complement the in vitro findings, in silico simulations, including drug‐likeness prediction and pharmacokinetics (ADMET), were employed to better understand LGEO's biological properties. The results indicated that LGEO possesses potent antibacterial effects, likely by disrupting the bacterial cell membrane, and significantly inhibits biofilm formation. This comprehensive approach, combining direct antimicrobial action, biofilm disruption, novel material development and computational insights, positions LGEO as a promising natural agent for combating K. pneumoniae infections and addressing the urgent challenges of AMR.