Herein, there is evidence that A. blazei has antioxidant activity and that A. blazei extract or a purified fraction inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the brain (TNF, IL-1β and IL-6) and spleen (IFN-γ, IL-6 and IL-17) during Plasmodium berghei (strain ANKA) infection preventing the development of severe disease. The gene discussed is IL1B; the disease is infection.