About 30 percent of starch is hydrolysed in mouth by salivary amylase enzyme (optimum pH 6.8) into a disaccharide – maltose.
Lysozyme present in saliva acts as an antibacterial agent that prevents infections (no formation of monosaccharide).
The saliva secreted into the oral cavity contains electrolytes (Na+ , K+ , Cl– , HCO– ) and enzymes, salivary amylase and lysozyme (not all types of digestive amylase enzymes). The chemical process of digestion is initiated in the oral cavity by the hydrolytic action of the carbohydrate splitting enzyme, the salivary amylase.