PHOENIX -- Green tea has long been praised for its reported health benefits. Now, doctors are trying to see if it can help prevent cervical cancer.

A new clinical study will look at whether a chemical found in green tea can help treat women with human papillomavirus, or HPV. Certain strains of HPV can cause cervical cancer.

"Green tea has been used for centuries for medicinal purposes," said Dr. David Greenspan, one of the principal investigators of the study.

Dr. David Greenspan is hoping to recruit about 50 Valley women with persistent HPV to participate in the study. Half the women will get capsules equivalent to about eight cups of green tea a day. The other half will be given a placebo.

Researchers at Arizona Cancer Center, which is affiliated with the University of Arizona, are also taking part in the clinical study, sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. The study is expected to include about 150 women from several parts of the country.

"Our thought is that using a pill that has these green tea extracts in it... can boost the immune system," said Dr. Greenspan.

Greenspan said currently, treatment for HPV may involve surgery or freezing the cervix. He hopes to find a non-invasive way to treat HPV, the most common sexually transmitted infection.

Maricopa Integrated Health System is recruiting patients with persistent HPV for the study. For more information, call the research coordinator at 602-344-5439.