The protection mechanism offered by Heterophragma adenophyllum extract against Fe-C steel dissolution at low pH: Computational, statistical and electrochemical investigations.

•Anticorrosive impact of Heterophragma adenophyllum extract tested for Fe-C steel.•Inhibition capability of the extract was 98.35% at 600 ppm.•Surface morphology by SEM, AFM and XPS confirmed considerable surface change.•Various isotherm models supported the adsorption mechanism.•Statistical and computational simulation underpinned the experimental findings.