Quercus acuta Acorn Bran Extract Enhances Wound Healing by Promoting Human Dermal Fibroblast Migration and...

Background/Objectives: Wound repair-associated processes and the antioxidant properties of natural products play critical roles in skin wound healing and barrier restoration. Wound healing is a complex process characterized by a series of interconnected events that facilitate the self-repair of the skin following injury. Methods: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Quercus acuta acorn bran extract (QAABE) on wound healing using human dermal fibroblast (HDF) cell cultures treated with QAABE. Additionally, in vivo experiments were conducted using a mouse model of skin injury to assess the wound-healing potential of the extract. Results: The results indicated that QAABE enhanced wound healing in vitro by upregulating extracellular matrix-related markers, including vimentin, Col1a1, Col3a1, endothelin, fibronectin, and VEGF at the mRNA level, and increasing the protein expression of vimentin, COL1A1, endothelin, and α-SMA. QAABE also exhibited reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging activity. In the mouse skin injury model, QAABE treatment accelerated wound closure and was associated with reduced inflammatory responses. Conclusions: These findings suggest that QAABE may promote wound-healing-related responses in both in vitro and in vivo models, supporting its potential as a candidate for further investigation in wound-healing research.