Phenolic Profile, Antioxidant Activity, and Wound-Healing Potential of Oenothera rosea and Taxodium mucronatum Extracts

Oenothera rosea and Taxodium mucronatum are traditionally used in the Americas for wound healing; however, their bioactive properties remain insufficiently standardized and scientifically validated. Therefore, this study aimed to establish extraction conditions that maximize the antioxidant potential of O. rosea and T. mucronatum extracts, characterize their phenolic profiles, and evaluate their biological effects in vitro. Extraction temperature, solvent, and time were evaluated using a full factorial design, with total phenolic content and radical scavenging capacity (DPPH and ABTS) as response variables. Extracts’ phenolic profiles were characterized by UHPLC-PDA-Orbitrap-MS/MS. Nitric oxide production was assessed in RAW 264.7 macrophages by quantifying nitrite using the Griess assay. Fibroblast migration was evaluated under standard- and high-glucose conditions as an in vitro wound-healing model. Extracts obtained with 70% ethanol at 60 °C for 24 h exhibited the highest overall antioxidant activity. O. rosea was rich in phenolic acids and flavonoids, whereas T. mucronatum predominantly contained bioflavonoids and diterpenes. T. mucronatum significantly reduced nitric oxide production, whereas O. rosea showed no significant difference from the control. Under standard-glucose conditions, both extracts significantly enhanced fibroblast migration compared with the negative control. However, under high-glucose conditions, only the 50:50 mixture induced partial wound closure. These findings support the potential of both species as sources of bioactive compounds for wound management.