Gums abound in nature and many have been extracted, characterized and used as excipients in dosage forms manufacture. In this study, gum obtained from Cissus populnea root was extracted and used as release retardant in the formulation of controlled release salbutamol tablets. Test gum, acrylate-methacrylate copolymer (Eudragit®RS100) and maize starch at varied concentrations were used to formulate tablets by wet granulation and the granules were characterized by measuring flow and packing properties. Granules with adequate flow properties were compressed into flat face tablets of 6 mm diameter at a compression load of 26.5 KgF on the load scale. Resultant tablets were evaluated for friability, hardness and drug release study. The pH of the gum was 8.03 and granules have angle of repose, bulk and tapped density and Carr’s index ranging from 18.53 ± 0.98 to 22.49 ± 0.97º, 0.53 ± 0.01 to 0.64 ± 0.01 g/ml, 0.56 ± 0.15 to 0.69 ± 0.01 g/ml and 5.35 ± 1.54 to 17.66 ± 2.31% respectively. Hardness values ranged from 4.61 ± 0.42 to 8.61 ± 0.84 Kg/F and friability percentage of 0.01 to 1.88%. The test gum and formulated salbutamol granules exhibit adequate flow properties and compressibility. Over 50% drug release was achieved between 60 and 150 min depending on gum concentration. Drug release from the tablets were adequately retarded and showed good post-compression properties. The study revealed Cissus populnea gum has comparable effect with Eudragit®RS100 at a ratio of 2:1 and can be used to formulate controlled release salbutamol tablets.