The present invention relates to a novel use of an Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge extract and the like, and provides a composition for preventing or treating colitis, including an Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge extract, a fraction thereof or a compound isolated therefrom as an active ingredient. In addition, the present invention relates to a novel use of a combined extract of medicinal herbs, and provides a composition for preventing or treating colitis, including an Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge extract, a Galla Rhois extract, a Codonopsis lancellata extract, and the like as active ingredients, or including an Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge extract, a Coptis japonica Makino extract, and the like as active ingredients. According to the present invention, the Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge extract and the like or the combined extract can be used as a food or medical materials constituting a pharmaceutical composition or a nutraceutical composition. The pharmaceutical composition or the nutraceutical composition can be used for preventing or treating acute colitis or chronic colitis, and particularly, can effectively prevent, delay, alleviate or treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and the like.
