Luminescent properties of carbon dots originated from pine pollen for anti-counterfeiting application

•First report on the anti-counterfeiting application of carbon dots derived from pine pollen.•The structural and morphological properties of carbon dot derived from pine pollen were investigated by analyzing their Raman spectra, FT-IR spectra, XPS spectra patterns and transmission electron microscope image.•The carbon dots show the hydrophilic properties and intense blue emission (438 nm) under excitation at 354 nm.•The anti-counterfeiting pattern printed by inkjet printing method exhibits blue emission under UV excitation with excellent covertness under daylight..