The present invention relates to a novel use of herbal extracts in a pharmaceutical composition for prevention and treatment of nephritis and, more particularly, to a pharmaceutical composition and a health functional food for prevention and/or treatment of nephritis that contains at least one herbal extract selected from the group consisting of a Crataegi Fructus extract, a Cinnamomi Cortex extract, a Prunella Spica extract, and an Equiseti Herba extract, a method for prevention and/or treatment of nephritis using the herbal extract, and a use of the herbal extract in preparation of a composition for prevention and/or treatment of nephritis. The herbal extract has a good therapeutic effect for nephritis on a nephritis model of which the nephritis is induced by a drug such as gentamicin, cisplatin, etc., and a good inhibitory activity on the growth of mesangial cells in kidneys, thereby providing a very useful means for prevention and/or treatment of nephritis.