Provided is a method for preventing or treating hepatitis C by administrating a composition including, as an active ingredient, a Vitidis Vinferae Radix extract or a fraction thereof and, more specifically, to a Vitidis Vinferae Radix extract which is extracted with water and alcohol or a mixed solvent thereof, or a fraction thereof, which have remarkably low hepatotoxicity and exhibit an excellent effect of selectively inhibiting genome replication of a hepatitis C virus, and thus can be useful for preventing or treating hepatitis C.