The present invention relates to a composition for preventing, alleviating, or treating peripheral neuropathy, in particular, peripheral neuropathy induced by an anti-cancer agent (i.e., chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy), comprising a Lithospermi Radix extract as an effective component. Specifically, the Lithospermi Radix extract can relieve the suppressed growth of neurites caused by an anti-cancer agent while neither inducing any cytotoxicity in normal cells nor changing the unique cytotoxic potential of an anti-cancer agent in human cancer cells. In addition the Lithospermi Radix extract can efficiently lower the enhanced sensitivity to painful stimuli in peripheral neuropathic animals induced by an anti-cancer agent. Thus, the Lithospermi Radix extract can be advantageously used as an effective component of a composition for prevention, alleviation, or treatment of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.
