Which digestive enzyme is present in saliva?

Correct option is A

The correct answer is (A) Amylase.

Information Booster:

• Digestive enzymes are specialized proteins that aid in the breakdown of food into simpler molecules, allowing the body to absorb and utilize nutrients effectively.
• These enzymes are secreted by various organs in the digestive system, such as the salivary glands, stomach, pancreas, and small intestine.

Digestive Enzymes:

1. Carbohydrate-Digesting Enzymes:

• Amylase: Breaks down complex carbohydrates (starch) into simple sugars like maltose.
• Secreted by: Salivary glands (salivary amylase) and pancreas (pancreatic amylase).
• Maltase: Converts maltose into glucose.
• Lactase: Breaks down lactose (milk sugar) into glucose and galactose.
• Sucrase: Converts sucrose (table sugar) into glucose and fructose.

2. Protein-Digesting Enzymes:

• Pepsin: Breaks proteins into smaller peptides in the stomach.
• Secreted by: Stomach (as an inactive form, pepsinogen, and activated by stomach acid).
• Trypsin and Chymotrypsin: Further digest peptides into smaller units.
• Secreted by: Pancreas (as inactive forms and activated in the small intestine).
• Peptidase: Breaks down peptides into individual amino acids.

3. Fat-Digesting Enzymes:

• Lipase: Breaks down fats into glycerol and fatty acids.
• Secreted by: Pancreas and small intestine.

4. Nucleic Acid-Digesting Enzymes:

• Deoxyribonuclease (DNase) and Ribonuclease (RNase): Break down DNA and RNA into nucleotides.
• Secreted by: Pancreas.