This study aims to evaluate the potential of cross-linked Acacia seyal gum as a matrix former in sustained-release salbutamol sulphate tablet formulation prepared by direct compression method. Tablets were formulated with constant quantity of salbutamol sulphate (8 mg), while the matrix material varied between 30, 40 and 50 percent (%), resulting in formulations T1, T2 and T3 containing EG; T4, T5 and T6 containing CG and; T7, T8 and T9 containing Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC). Tablets were evaluated for weight, diameter, thickness, friability, crushing strength, tensile strength, disintegration time, and drug content, all falling within acceptable B.P standards for sustained-release tablets with weight between 131 – 325 mg. Drug release was studied in 0.1 N HCl (pH 1.0) for 2 h then phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) for 6 h. Cumulative percent drug released calculated showed the time for 50 % drug release (T50%) being longer for the CG matrices. Formulation T4 (30 % CG proportion) showed release of 78.78 % at the 8th h, the closest to the theoretical release of 66.66 %. Based on this and the results of the statistical analysis of variance (p < 0.05), T4 was selected as the optimum formulation in this study to sustain the release of salbutamol sulphate for about 12 h. It is thus safe to conclude that cross-linked Acacia seyal gum can be used as an alternative matrix material for sustaining the release of water-soluble drugs.
