[en] For this work, a hydroalcoholic extract was prepared from the aerial parts of the Malvaviscus arboreus (Malvaceae) species, popularly known as hibisco-colibri in Brazil; and then, investigated by infrared and NMR spectroscopy. A class of special metabolites containing a porphyrin skeleton and pyrrole units was determined by typical absorption spectra, mainly ¹H and ¹³C NMR, thus indicating the capability of showing anti-corrosion effect. Therefore, the M. arboreus extract was examined as a corrosion inhibitor for AISI 1020 carbon steel in H₂SO₄ 1 mol L^-1, using a mass loss (gravimetric) technique. Results showed good corrosion inhibition efficiency, at both time and temperature variation. The maximum efficiency observed at 500 ppm was 97.5%, at 3 h, 24 h and 48 h. The surface morphology was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), through which a higher homogeneity was observed in the presence of the M. arboreus extract. The hydroalcoholic extract of hibisco-colibri can be considered an efficient green agent for preventing corrosion. (author)