DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

Nur Rahmah1), 2021

Faculty of Math and Science, Makassar State University
Email: nurrahmah5501@gmail.com

Abstract

The digestive system breaks down dietary food into small nutrient molecules that can be absorbed
into the plasma for distribution to the body cells. Digestive enzymes are produced primarily by the
pancreas and enterocytes. The production of enzymes by the pancreas, such as amylases and lipases,
is under nervous and hormonal control and increases substantially. Amylase is an enzyme that
catalyses the breakdown of starch into sugars. Amylase is present in human saliva, where it begins
the chemical process of digestion. This practicum aims to determine the working processes of the
amylase enzyme and to determine the digestion process of fat. This practicum will be held on
Saturday, April 24th 2021, from 11.00 AM to 15.00 PM, at the 3rd Floor Zoology Laboratory,
Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Makassar State University.
The results obtained are that the test for the effect of temperature on the work of amylase is blue so
that there is positive starch in the salivary amylase solution, the test for the effect of pH on the work
of amylase turns clear, and on homogeneous bile with fat which proves bile acids can break down fat
in the body.

Keywords: Amilylases, Bile, Digestive, Starch

1. INTRODUCTION Enzymes are one or more polypeptide

Humans eat for many different reasons:
because they are hungry, because they are
bored, because they are stressed, or simply
because the food smells and tastes good. The
biological reason for eating, however, is to
replenish nutrients and to provide energy to
support the body's functions. The task of the
digestive system is to break down food into the
elements that the body can use and to eliminate
as waste whatever is left over.
Digestion is a process of breakdown
complex compounds into smaller compounds.
Digestion is a process of breakdown complex
compounds into smaller compounds. Process
the breakdown of these compounds yields that
energy essential for the needs of cells, tissues,
organs and creatures life. Digestion is a
chemical process. Chemical process requires
the presence of enzymes for chemical changes
in materials basically. Enzymes play a role in
increasing speed reaction without affecting the
reaction product and not participating react. In
the process of digestion, enzymes are produced
by various organs, such as the small intestine,
salivary glands and stomach. Enzymes are
specific in the breakdown process complex
ingredients (carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins
and minerals).
groups (protein) which functions as a catalyst
(compound that is speed up the reaction process
without reacting) in a chemical reaction.
Enzymes work by attaching themselves to the
molecular surface of the substances it reacts
and with thereby speeding up the reaction
process. Acceleration happened because the
enzyme decreases the activation energy with in
itself will make the reaction easier. Partly large
enzymes work typically, meaning each type
enzymes can only work on one kind of
compound or chemical reaction. This is due to
differences in chemical structure each enzyme
that is fixed. For example, the α- enzyme
amylase can only be used in the process of
breaking down starch into glucose.
In the digestive system there is also bile
which functions to help break down fat and
help digestive enzymes work. Bile build-up
occurs in the liver cells (liver). Liver cells first
form bile salts from cholesterol. The reaction
between cholesterol and various substances in
liver cells produces water and a neutral pH
compound called bile salts. The bile salts then
mix with water, cholesterol, copper minerals,
and bilirubin to form bile. This practicum aims
to determine the working processes of the
amylase enzyme and to determine the digestion
process of fat.
2. LITERATURE REVIEW AND
HYPOTHESIS DEVELOPMENT
The digestive system breaks down dietary
food into small nutrient molecules that can be
absorbed into the plasma for distribution to the
body cells. It also transfers water and
electrolytes from the external environment into
the internal environment. It eliminates
undigested food residues to the external
environment in the feces (Sherwood, 2010).
Digestion is regulated by a number of
important hormones, which are secreted from
the liver, the pancreas, and the gastrointestinal
tract, as well as from fat cells. These hormones
include leptin, which controls hunger
sensations by acting on cells in the
hypothalamus in the brain; gastrin, which
prompts the release of acid and increases
muscle activity in the stomach; glucagon,
which stimulates the release of glucose from
the liver into the blood; and insulin, which
stimulates the absorption of glucose from the
blood into muscles and other tissues (Rogers,
2011).
Digestive enzymes are produced primarily
by the pancreas and enterocytes. The
production of enzymes by the pancreas, such as
amylases and lipases, is under nervous and
hormonal control and increases substantially
during the first 6 weeks after birth (Pluske
2001). During the first 3–4 weeks of life, fetal
enterocytes that have high endocytotic activity
are gradually replaced by adult-type
enterocytes devoid of such activity. The
process occurs in a proximal-to-distal direction
in the intestine and is an important part of
intestinal maturation. Changes in enterocyte
generation influence the expression of brush
border enzymes (Zimmerman, 2012).
Amylase is an enzyme that catalyses the
breakdown of starch into sugars. Amylase is
present in human saliva, where it begins the
chemical process of digestion. Among other
proteins, alpha-amylase is synthesized and
secreted by acinar cells, which make up more
than eighty percent of The cells in the major
salivary gland. The α-amylases are calcium
metalloenzymes, completely unable to function
in the absence of calcium. By acting at random
locations along the starch chain, α-amylase
breaks down long-chain carbohydrates,
ultimately yielding maltotriose and maltose
from amylose, or maltose, glucose and limit
dextrin from amylopectin (Abed, 2012).
Enzymes are proteins that function as
biocatalysts in cells life. The advantages of
enzymes over ordinary catalysts are (1) it can
increase higher product; (2) works at a
relatively neutral pH and a relative temperature
low; and (3) specific and selective to certain
substrates. According to Reed (1991), the
optimum temperature for α-amylase enzymes
range from 70ºC - 90ºC. In addition, amylase
enzymes are active in the pH range 5.2 –5.6
(Novozyme, 2010). This is supported by
Fogarty (1983), α-amylase enzymes are
generally stable in the pH range 5-8 (Jayanti,
2011).
Bile acids are made in the liver by the
cytochrome P450-mediated oxidation of
cholesterol. They are conjugated with taurine or
the amino acid glycine, or with a sulfate or a
glucuronide, and are then stored in the
gallbladder, which concentrates the salts by
removing the water. Bile acids serve other
functions, including eliminating cholesterol
from the body, driving the flow of bile to
eliminate catabolites from the liver,
emulsifying lipids and fat-soluble vitamins in
the intestine to form micelles that can be
transported via the lacteal system, and aiding in
the reduction of the bacteria flora found in the
small intestine and biliary tract. Conjugated
bile acids are more efficient at emulsifying fats
because, at intestinal pH, they are more ionized
than unconjugated bile acids (Sharma, 12).
Bile acids are synthesized by the liver and
secreted through the gallbladder into intestinal
lumen, then produces compounds emphipatik
or often called bile salts. The bile salt serves as
a detergent, that is breaks down fat into smaller
formsand absorb fat. Bile acid synthesis that
happens in the liver to become its bile salts then
secrete into the intestine and excreted from the
body through feces (Harjana, 2016).
3. PRACTICUM METHODS
a. Time and Place
This practicum will be held on Saturday,
April 24th 2021, from 11.00 AM to 15.00
PM, at the 3rd Floor Zoology Laboratory,
Department of Biology, Faculty of
Mathematics and Natural Sciences,
Makassar State University.
b. Tools and Materials
I. Tools
 a) Activity 1 h) Record the result by putting a
1) Syringe positive sign (+) for positive
2) 4 Test tube reactions for blue and a
3) Tube rack negative sign (-) for negative
4) Drop pipette reactions in red.
5) Petri dishes for carbohydrate 2) Experiments on the effect of pH on
hydrolysis test amylase action
6) Water baths filled with water a) Give the serial number of the
4°C, 25°C, 37°C, and 70°C. four test tubes and place them
7) Stopwatch on the tube rack
b) Activity 2 b) Add 3 ml of amylase
1) Surgical tools preparation in each tube
2) Straight pin c) Add 3 ml of pH 4 buffer
3) 5 test tubes solution into 1 tube, 3 ml of pH
4) Tube rack 7 buffer solution into a tube of
5) Syringe 2, 3 ml of buffer solution pH 9
6) Stopwatch into tube 3, and 3 ml of
II. Materials aquades into tube 4.
a) Activity 1 d) Put in a water bath at 37 ° C for
1) Starch solution 5 minutes. shake for 5
2) Buffer solution pH 4, pH 7, pH minutes, 15 minutes, and 30
9 minutes. Collect samples at
3) Iodine solution times of 5 minutes, 15 minutes,
4) Water and 30 minutes.
5) Salivary glands e) Perform a flour hydrolysis test
b) Activity 2 by adding iodine solution.
1) coconut oil II. Activity 2
2) Aquades a) Take the gallbladder (fasical fallea)
3) Alcohol 70% from the frog that has been killed.
4) Xylene b) Pour the contents into a clean test
5) Frog bile tube by cutting off the surface of
6) Ether the gallbladder a little.
c. Work Procedure c) Dilute with distilled water until the
I. Activity 1 volume becomes 2 ml.
1) Experiments effect of temperature d) Put a mark on the test tube and
on amylase action place it on the tube rack
a) Drink water then rinse your e) Fill each tube with 2 ml of turmeric
mouth to produce salivary oil.
amylase. f) Add to tube 1 with 5 ml of distilled
b) Place serial number 4 test tubes water. In tube 2 with 5 ml of 70%
and host 3 ml of tube amylase alcohol, tube 3 with 3 ml of xylene.
preparations 1,2,3, and 4. In tube 4 with 3 ml of bile salt
c) Put tube 1 into a 4°C water solution and in tube 5 there is
bath tube 2 into a 37°C water nothing extra.
bath, and tube 3 in a 70°C g) Shake the tubes and observe what
water bath and tube 4 in a happens to the homogeneous
25°C water bath as control. mixing.
d) Add 5 ml of starch solution to h) Repeat the examination 15 minutes
each tube. and 30 minutes later.
e) Shake for 5 minutes and place
back on each tube.
4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
f) Take a small sample of each
I. Activity 1
mixture and place it in a petri
1) Experiments effect of temperature
dish.
on amylase action
g) Add iodine solution.
 Tubes Temperature Reaction Notes the action of amylase, tubes 1,2,3, and 4
1 4ºC + Blue containing salivary glands and added starch
2 37ºC + Blue with each having a temperature of 4ºC, 37 ºC,
3 70ºC + Blue 70 ºC, and 25 ºC, then the sample is taken a
4 25ºC + Blue little and added iodine solution turns blue, this
indicates that starch is present in the amylase
2) Experiments on the effect of pH saliva. If there is starch amylose inside sample
on amylase action solution, it will have an effect in dark blue
formation, this thin caused by the presence of
Tubes Buffer 5 15 30 iodine molecules which is bound in the
Solutio minut minut minut amylose helix coil starch. Iodine is not very
n es es es dissolves in water, making it an iodine reagent
1 Ph 4 White White White made by dissolving iodine inside potassium
(clear) (clear) (clear) iodide solution. This makes up linear triiodide
2 pH 7 White White White complex ion solution. Ion the triiodide ion is
(clear) (clear) (clear) bonded into the coil helix of starch causes
3 pH 9 White White White intensity blue-black color (Zhizhuanget.al,
(clear) (clear) (clear) 2006).
4 Aquade White White White In the experiment of the effect of ph on the
s (clear) (clear) (clear) work of the enzyme, each test tube was filled
with a phosphate buffer solution at different
pHs, namely tube 1 pH 4, tube 2 pH 7, tube 3
II. Activity 2 pH 9, and tube 4 filled with aquades. Then
Tu Solution 5 15 30 shaken for 5 minutes, 15 minutes, and 30
bes minutes minutes minutes minutes. After that, a small sample of salivary
1 Aquadest Hetero- Hetero- Hetero- amylase was taken and added with iodine
geneous geneous geneous solution, then shaken. It was observed that the
2 Alkohol Hetero- Hetero- Hetero- salivary lamilase turned clear at 5, 15, and 30
geneous geneous geneous minutes. Effect of pH on amylase enzyme
3 Xylene Homo- Homo- Homo- activity determining the activity of the amylase
genous genous genous enzyme based on the time of breakdown of
4 Coconut Homo- Homo- Homo- starch into glucose at various pH with the
oil genous genous genous addition of iodine as an indicator which gives a
5 Bile Turbid Turbid Turbid blue color and will turn clear.
In the second activity experiment, the tubes
Amylase enzyme is adigestive enzymes, containing distilled water, 70% alcohol, xylene,
mainly carried out by the pancreas and salivary frog bile, and no additional were each added
glands. The main function of the enzyme with 2 ml of coconut oil, then shaken for 5
amylase is to break down starches in food so minutes, 15 minutes, and 30 minutes. In this
they can be used by body. The amylase enzyme experiment, data obtained from heterogeneous
is classified as a hydrolase enzyme, which is a aquades tubes, heterogeneous alcohol,
catalyst for the bond breaking reaction. homogeneous xylene, homogeneous bile, and
Enzyme activity is influenced by several no additional cloudiness. Xylene and bile show
factors, including pH and temperature. that coconut oil is soluble in this solution. Bile
Enzymes can work at optimum pH and and coconut oil form a homogeneous solution
temperature. The optimum temperature of the and no separation is formed - a separation of
amylase enzyme is 70ºC - 90ºC and the substances is formed. Therefore, it can be
optimum pH is 5-8. proven that bile can dissolve fat or break down
In this practicum, 2 activities were carried fat so that it does not separate from other
out, namely an experiment to determine the solutions. The human body is made up of 70%
working processes of the amylase enzyme (the water. Water in the digestive system functions
effect of temperature and pH on the work of as a solvent for nutrients in food so that it is
amylase), and an experiment to determine the easily absorbed by the body. However, there is
process of digestion of fat. based on the results one nutrient that cannot be dissolved by water,
of observations on the effect of temperature on namely fat. The new fat and water can be
mixed with the help of an emulsifier or Sharma Kirti Rani. 2012. Review on Bile Acid
coagulating agent. This kind of emulsifying Analysis. Int J Pharm Biomed Sci. ISSN:
property is owned by bile acids. Bile acids 0976-5263. 3(2)
have a surface in a way that allows them to
hold fat and water together. Sherwood Lauralee. 2010. Human Physiology:
From Cells to Systems Seventh Edition.
USA: Yolanda Cossio
5. CONCLUSION
The digestive system is a process of Zimmerman Jeffrey J., et al. 2012. Diseases of
breakdown complex compounds into smaller Swine 10th Edition. USA: Wiley-Blackwell
compounds. Amylase is one digestive enzymes
which are mainly produced by salivary glands.
The main function of the enzyme amylase is to
break down starches in food so they can be
used by body. Amylase enzyme Enzymes can
work at optimum pH and temperature. The
optimum temperature of the amylase enzyme is
70ºC - 90ºC and the optimum pH is 5-8. In the
test for the effect of temperature on the work of
amylase, the salivary amylase mixed with
iodine changes color to blue which proves that
there is starch in the solution. On the effect of
pH on the activity of the enzyme amylase,
salivary amylase with the addition of iodine as
an indicator that gives a blue color and will turn
clear. In the digestive system water cannot
dissolve fat. New fats can be broken down in
the body with the help of bile acids. This has
been proven in experiments with frog bile
mixed with coconut oil to produce a
homogeneous solution.

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