Correct Answer - Option 2 : carbohydrate
The correct answer is carbohydrate.
Concept-
Salivary amylase is a digestive enzyme that helps in the breakdown of carbohydrates (starch) into simpler molecules.
Explanation-
- The human body contains three types of carbohydrates, namely polysaccharides, oligosaccharides, and disaccharides, which needs digestion.
- The polysaccharides include starch, glycogen, and cellulose.
- The oligosaccharides include dextrins.
- The disaccharides are sucrose (cane sugar) and lactose (milk sugar).
- The saliva secreted into the oral cavity contains electrolytes and enzymes, salivary amylase, and lysozyme.
- The chemical process of digestion in human beings is initiated in the oral cavity by the hydrolytic action of the carbohydrate splitting enzyme, the salivary amylase.
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salivary amylase breaks down starch which is a complex molecule to give simple sugar.
- About 30 percent of starch is hydrolysed here by the salivary enzyme (optimum pH 6.8) into a disaccharide – maltose.
- Further, carbohydrates in the chyme are hydrolysed by pancreatic amylase into disaccharides.
- Starch and glycogen → Maltose
- In above reaction, salivary amylase is used as an enzyme.
- lysosome acts as an antibacterial agent. It kills bacteria thus prevent infections.
- Polysaccharides (carbohydrate) → Disaccharide
- In above reaction, amylase is used as an enzyme.
Thus, Salivary amylase breaks down Carbohydrates.
