Which enzyme in saliva is described as the most important ingredient for digestion, initiating the breakdown of carbohydrates?

1. Saliva is mostly water, with the remaining fraction containing ions, enzymes, and other components. 2. Among these components, the most important ingredient for digestion is the enzyme salivary amylase. 3. Salivary amylase initiates the breakdown of carbohydrates and continues acting until inactivated by stomach acid. 4. Pepsin and trypsin act later in the stomach and small intestine on proteins, and lingual lipase, while also secreted in the mouth, acts on lipids and is not the enzyme called the most important for digestion overall. _Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology (CC BY 4.0), Ch 23 "The Digestive System", section 23.3, p. 1099_