The chemical digestion of starch in the human body begins in the mouth and is completed in the small intestine. Which enzyme is primarily responsible for the final breakdown of disaccharides into monosaccharides?

Solution

1. Starch digestion starts with salivary amylase and continues with pancreatic amylase.
2. These enzymes break down polysaccharides into disaccharides.
3. The final hydrolysis of disaccharides into monosaccharides occurs at the intestinal mucosa.
4. This process is mediated by brush border enzymes.
5. Hence the answer is (C).