Objective: The present study was designed to develop a mucoadhesive tablet of pentoxifylline using the mucoadhesive natural polymer from the plant Manilkara zapota Linn.
 Methods: The tablets were formulated with three different concentrations of the isolated polymer and evaluated for thickness, weight variation, friability, hardness, swelling index, mucoadhesive strength and in vitro drug release. The swelling index was indirectly proportional to the mucoadhesive polymer of Manilkara zapota (MAPMZ) concentration.
 Results: The tablets formulated with a high concentration of MAPMZ showed good mucoadhesion strength in 5 min contact time. The in vitro drug release studies indicated that the drug release was directly proportional to MAPMZ concentration. The release kinetics indicated that the drug release was followed the zero-order.
 Conclusion: The MAPMZ showed the controlled release of pentoxifylline for a period of 12 h.