Salivary enzymes

Seventy‐six enzyme activities of mixed whole saliva, parotid saliva, serum, and polymorphonuclear leukocytes were examined in 10 individuals with healthy periodontium, 10 adult periodontitis patients, and 4 localized juvenile periodontitis patients by using the API ZYM (Analytab Products Inc., Plainview, N. Y.) and API ZYM AP (API System, La Balme les Grottes, France) semi‐quantitative micromethod systems. Enzymes assayed included phosphatases, esterase, lipase, glycosidases, and proteases including numerous aminopeptidases. Among the three study groups, mixed whole saliva of adult periodontitis patients revealed the highest and mixed whole saliva of healthy individuals the lowest enzyme activities. Statistically significant differences were found for alkaline phosphatase, esterase, β‐glucuronidase, α‐glucosidase, and some aminopeptidases. Bacterial sediment of whole saliva exhibited higher enzyme activities than whole saliva supernatant. Serum contained numerous aminopeptidases which were virtually undetectable in whole saliva. Some enzyme activities found in mixed whole saliva could not be detected in parotid saliva. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes demonstrated a distinct enzyme profile. The present study shows that varying enzyme profiles exist among the various components which make up whole saliva. It also indicates that numerous salivary enzymes originate from oral microorganisms and that the enzyme activity of whole saliva is higher in individuals with periodontal disease than in periodontally healthy subjects.