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An amylase (/ ˈ æ m ɪ l eɪ s /) is an enzyme that catalyses the hydrolysis of starch (Latin amylum) into sugars.Amylase is present in the saliva of humans and some other mammals, where it begins the chemical process of digestion.
Saliva on a baby's lips. Saliva (commonly referred to as spit or drool) is an extracellular fluid produced and secreted by salivary glands in the mouth.In humans, saliva is around 99% water, plus electrolytes, mucus, white blood cells, epithelial cells (from which DNA can be extracted), enzymes (such as lipase and amylase), and antimicrobial agents (such as secretory IgA, and lysozymes).
The test for amylase is easier to perform than that for lipase, making it the primary test used to detect and monitor pancreatitis. Medical laboratories will usually measure either pancreatic amylase or total amylase. If only pancreatic amylase is measured, an increase will not be noted with mumps or other salivary gland trauma.
Salivary immunoglobulin A serves to aggregate oral bacteria such as S. mutans and prevent the formation of dental plaque. [28] Tissue repair: Saliva can encourage soft-tissue repair by decreasing clotting time and increasing wound contraction. [29] Digestion: Saliva contains amylase, which hydrolyses starch into glucose, maltose, and dextrin.
Alpha-amylase 1 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the AMY1A gene. [3] This gene is found in many organisms. Amylases are secreted proteins that hydrolyze 1,4-alpha-glucoside bonds in oligosaccharides and polysaccharides, and thus catalyze the first step in digestion of dietary starch and g
Also of importance is the presence in saliva of the digestive enzymes amylase and lipase. Amylase starts to work on the starch in carbohydrates, breaking it down into the simple sugars of maltose and dextrose that can be further broken down in the small intestine. Saliva in the mouth can account for 30% of this initial starch digestion.
The parotid gland also secretes salivary alpha-amylase (sAA), which is the first step in the decomposition of starches during mastication. It is the main exocrine gland to secrete this. It is the main exocrine gland to secrete this.
Salivary cortisol levels can thus provide insight into a number of other psychological processes. Alpha amylase levels in saliva provide a non-invasive way to examine sympathoadrenal medullary (SAM) activity, which can otherwise be measured with electrophysiological equipment or blood plasma readings.