diastase

n.
An amylase or a mixture of amylases that is found in milk and that converts starch to dextrin and maltose.

[French, from Greek diastasis, separation. See diastasis.]

diastasic di'a·sta'sic (-stā'sĭk, -zĭk) adj.

A plant enzyme that accelerates the breakdown of starch to maltose. Some sufferers of digestive disorders take it as a supplement to aid digestion of starch. Diastase is common in barley seeds.

(dī'ə-stās', -stāz')
n.

An amylase or a mixture of amylases that converts starch to dextrin and maltose, is found in certain germinating grains such as malt, and is used to make soluble starches, to aid the digestion of starches, and to digest glycogen in histological sections.

A combination of enzymes produced during germination of seeds, and contained in malt; it converts starch into maltose and then into dextrose.

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