Which enzyme acts on starch in the digestive system?

• A. Pepsin
• B. Amylase
• C. Lipase
• D. Lactase

Answer: (A)

Starch is a carbohydrate that needs an enzyme with specificity for its glycosidic bonds. The enzyme that acts on starch is amylase. In humans, it starts in the mouth with salivary amylase and continues in the small intestine with pancreatic amylase, breaking the bonds in starch to produce smaller sugars like maltose and dextrins that are then further broken down to glucose. Pepsin digests proteins in the stomach, lipase digests fats, and lactase digests lactose in the small intestine. So, the enzyme that targets starch in digestion is amylase.