The inhibitive effect of the ethyl acetate extract of Uncaria gambir on the corrosion of mild steel in 1 M HCl solution has been investigated by weight loss measurement as well as potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. The presence of this catechin-containing extract reduces remarkably the corrosion rate of mild steel in acidic solution. The effect of temperature on the corrosion behavior of mild steel was studied in the range of 303-333 K. The results from this corrosion test clearly reveal that the extract behaves as a mixed type corrosion inhibitor with the highest inhibition at 1000 ppm. Surface analyses via scanning electron microscope (SEM) shows a significant improvement on the surface morphology of the mild steel plate. Linearity of Langmuir isotherm adsorptions indicated the monolayer formation of inhibitor on mild steel surface. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.