Which digestive enzyme begins the process of carbohydrate digestion in the mouth?

The enzyme that begins the process of carbohydrate digestion in the mouth is amylase. This enzyme is produced by the salivary glands and is secreted in saliva. Its primary function is to break down starches, which are complex carbohydrates, into simpler sugars like maltose and dextrin. The action of amylase starts even before food is swallowed and continues to work as the food mixes with saliva.

Pepsin, on the other hand, is a digestive enzyme activated in the stomach and plays a crucial role in protein digestion, not carbohydrates. Trypsin is another enzyme involved in protein digestion, produced in the pancreas and activated in the small intestine. Lipase is an enzyme that breaks down fats and is also secreted by the pancreas, further highlighting that it does not involve carbohydrate digestion.

Understanding the specific roles of these enzymes clarifies why amylase is the correct answer to this question, as it is specifically involved in the initial breakdown of carbohydrates during chewing in the mouth.