Alpha – amylase enzyme evaluation In Saliva of acutely stressed student

Abstract

Alpha - amylase is one of the major protein components of saliva. The main
function of salivary alpha-amylase is the enzymatic digestion of carbohydrates, but it
is also important for mucosal immunity in the oral cavity. The salivary enzyme alphaamylase
has been proposed as a marker for stress-induced activity of the sympathetic
nervous system. In the growing field of amylase research, recent studies have
underscored the usefulness of salivary alpha-amylase in this regard.
Fifteen Iraqi male students were considered in this study with mean age of 19.0
years old during examination period as stress students, another fifteen students
without examination were considered as .control. α-Amylase assay were achieved by
using colorimetric photometry method.
The collected data predicted elevation of amylase level from 2354.260 ± 379.757
to 2817.977 ± 125.375 IU/L with a significant change. Positive correlation
was recorded when plotted the correlations values of stress and no stress individual's.
In Conclusion we found that acute stress caused by examination associated with
elevation of amylase in saliva significantly, however one of the main causes of
academic stress is test anxiety for Undergraduate students seem to be more
emotionally vulnerable due to examinations.