Salivary Amylase. Salivary amylase initiates the digestion of starches, one of the more complex forms of carbohydrate. Secreted in the saliva, salivary amylase breaks down long-chain and branched carbohydrates, known as amylose and amylopectin, into two- and three-molecule sugars called maltose. The individual subunits that make up maltose are glucose, your bodyâs primary fuel source.
Aspirin has many effects because it reduces the bodyâs production of prostaglandins, a hormone-like substance that acts in numerous ways. Reducing prostaglandins diminishes pain and fever and weakens plateletsâ ability to stick together and form clots.
How Aspirin Works. Aspirin treats pain, fever, and inflammation. It can be used for muscle pain, arthritis, minor injuries, and other conditions. Aspirin is available in tablet and capsule form, as gum or as a suppository. The tablets may be plain aspirin, enteric-coated, extended release, buffered or chew-able.