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

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: 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. <b>Methods</b>: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of <i>Quercus acuta</i> 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. <b>Results</b>: 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. <b>Conclusions</b>: 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.