Abstract The dissolution of aluminum alloy AA 1060 in 0.5 M and 1.0 M HCl was investigated using thermometric measurements. The reaction number of the aluminum coupons varied linearly with the concentration of the acid. Addition of Napoleonaea imperialis seed extract to the dissolving aluminium coupons lowered the reaction number in both concentrations of HCl by inhibiting the dissolution process. The inhibition efficiency of Napoleonaea imperialis seed extract was enhanced to a considerable extent in the presence of iodide ions with the synergistic parameter S > 1. The adsorption of Napoleonaea imperialis extract on the aluminium surface best aligned with the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. The values of the free energy, ΔGadsfor the adsorption process revealed the process to be spontaneous and physisorptive.