Abstract: The corrosion resistance and strength of magnesium alloys are poor compared to traditional medical metal materials, which seriously limits their application in the field of medical devices. Studies have shown that alloying can significantly improve the properties of medical magnesium alloys, but due to the different effects of the addition of different alloying elements on the mechanical properties, corrosion resistance and biocompatibility of magnesium alloys, and there are differences in the improvement effect of the elements on the alloys. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the effects of the addition of different elements on the properties of medical magnesium alloys. This paper firstly reviews the comprehensive studies on the mechanical properties, corrosion degradation properties and their biocompatibility of magnesium-based alloys in recent years, and secondly analyses the differences in the properties of magnesium-based alloys with the addition of different alloying elements, and puts forward suggestions for the future development of medical magnesium-based alloy materials in view of the limitations of alloying and expects to provide valuable experience for future clinical applications.